AFAA Personal Trainer Certification Practice Exam

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Study for the AFAA Personal Trainer Certification Exam. Engage with quizzes, flashcards, and multiple-choice questions. Prepare efficiently with hints and explanations to achieve certification success.

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Rheumatoid arthritis is classified as what type of disease?

Infectious disease
Autoimmune disease
Genetic disorder
Degenerative disease

The correct answer is: Autoimmune disease

Rheumatoid arthritis is classified as an autoimmune disease because it occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, specifically the synovium—the lining of the membranes that surround the joints. This leads to inflammation, pain, and damage to the joints and surrounding structures. Autoimmune diseases are characterized by this aberrant immune response, which distinguishes them from infections caused by pathogens, genetic disorders resulting from abnormalities in DNA, or degenerative diseases that involve the progressive deterioration of tissues and organs without the involvement of the immune system attacking healthy cells. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, the hallmark of the condition is that the immune system targets the body’s own tissues, which is a defining feature of autoimmune diseases.