Category: Patients

International Women’s Day

Women's DayNRAS to launch new Rheumatoid Arthritis & Menopause booklet on International Women’s Day

On International Women’s Day March 8th 2026, the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) will launch a new Rheumatoid Arthritis & Menopause booklet, which will be available to download or order in print free of charge. The resource addresses a long‑standing gap in support for women managing both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the menopause—two conditions that can overlap in complex and often confusing ways.

The booklet follows a 2024 NRAS study exploring women’s experiences of RA during menopause.…

Read more of this article

NRAS Love Your Heart

NRAS launches new cardiovascular risk modules for SMILE‑RA

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is introducing three new cardiovascular risk management modules to its SMILE‑RA e‑learning programme this February. People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) face a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)—around 1.5 times that of the general population—yet screening and management of these risks remain inconsistent across the UK.

Although guidelines such as NICE NG100 highlight the importance of regular cardiovascular checks for people with RA, many individuals still have undiagnosed or poorly managed risk factors.…

Read more of this article

NRAS JoinTogether group meeting

NRAS groupsFor many people, attending a local group in person may not be possible. But with the NRAS JoinTogether digital groups, you can connect online with others who have similar interests and lifestyles. All groups are run by volunteers.

Menopause with IA

A supportive space for women navigating Menopause and Inflammatory Arthritis: this group offers a welcoming, safe space for women to connect, share, and feel heard throughout every stage of menopause—from perimenopause to post-menopause—while also managing life with Inflammatory Arthritis. The meetings will provide an opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss practical tips for symptom management, as well as hear expert advice from guest speakers who understand the unique challenges of this journey.…

Read more of this article

SMILE-RA – Exercise just got easier

NRAS understands that for people living with rheumatoid arthritis, physical activity is not a short‑term resolution but an important, sustained commitment that supports health throughout the year. SMILE-RA is a free, user friendly program designed to support people living with RA self-manage their condition.

To help individuals incorporate exercise more effectively into daily life, NRAS has refined the original SMILE‑RA Exercise module into two concise components: The Science Explained, which outlines the evidence behind the benefits of regular exercise for heart health, joint function, energy, mood, and overall wellbeing; and Let’s Move, which provides practical, achievable guidance for integrating physical activity into everyday routines in a sustainable and adaptable way.…

Read more of this article

APPG on Osteoporosis and Bone Health

All-Party Parliamentary Group publishes report on osteoporosis

The APPG on Osteoporosis and Bone Health has published Seen, Heard, Supported: Transforming Osteoporosis Care. Drawing on survey data from over 3,300 patients, the report found more than half of people with osteoporosis had no NHS contact about their condition in the past year. It highlights fragmented pathways, weak long-term condition management, and stark inequalities, and calls for national audit of the entire patient pathway, comprehensive local pathways, and bone health questions to be added to the NHS Health Check.…

Read more of this article

Psoriasis Awareness Week 2025

Psoriasis Awareness Week 2025Psoriasis Awareness Week is fast approaching with this year’s event running from Wednesday 29th October to Tuesday 4th November 2025 with the theme ‘Comorbidities of Psoriasis’.

Comorbidities are the presence of one or more additional diseases or disorders that occur in someone, alongside already living with psoriasis.

This includes conditions such as Psoriatic Arthritis, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes and the mental health impact that living with psoriasis may have including low self-esteem, feelings of isolation and loneliness and anxiety and depression.…

Read more of this article

The new NRAS RA Symptom Checker

Is it RA? animation

NRAS is proud to announce they have launched a new online tool aimed at helping individuals identify early signs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune condition that affects around 400,000 people in the UK. If left untreated, it can cause long-term joint damage and affect other organs such as the lungs, heart, and eyes. Early diagnosis is crucial to managing the disease and preventing irreversible harm. 

To support this, NRAS has introduced the “Is it RA?” Symptom Checker, a user-friendly online resource developed with input from leading rheumatology experts.…

Read more of this article

Scottish Survey of autoimmune inflammatory conditions

NRAS is leading on an important collaborative survey of people with autoimmune inflammatory conditions across Scotland about their experience of care in the NHS. We want to hear from any patients with a diagnosis of any of the following conditions:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Axial Spondyloarthritis
• Psoriatic Arthritis or Psoriasis
• Lupus
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The survey is live from 1st September 2025 until 10th October 2025.

Below is a link to our website and a copy of our flyer.…

Read more of this article