Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, predominantly inflammatory synovitis systemic disease of unknown etiology. It is characterized by polyarticular, symmetric, aggressive joint inflammation of the small joints of the hands and feet, often accompanied by extra-articular organ involvement and positive serum rheumatoid factor, which can lead to joint deformity and loss of function. Myth 1: Rheumatoid arthritis can be diagnosed in patients with arthralgia if they have a positive rheumatoid factor, and rheumatoid arthritis can be ruled out if they have a negative rheumatoid factor. The rheumatoid factor is an autoantibody with degenerative IgG as the target antigen, it is not a specific diagnostic indicator of rheumatoid arthritis, in addition to rheumatoid arthritis, some other common rheumatic diseases and infectious diseases can also appear rheumatoid factor positive, even normal people have 5% positive, therefore, rheumatoid factor positive is not necessarily rheumatoid arthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, the rate of rheumatoid factor positivity is 70%, so rheumatoid arthritis cannot be ruled out on the basis of negative rheumatoid factor. The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis must depend on whether it meets the internationally accepted diagnostic criteria, not just the rheumatoid factor. Myth 2: Rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic diseases are not curable, so do not go to systematic treatment, only use some painkillers, hormones or go to buy some so-called special drugs on their own. Correct understanding: In recent years, the rapid development of modern rheumatology disciplines has improved the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, as long as the early diagnosis, seize the opportunity to give positive and correct comprehensive treatment measures, you can make the condition better, stable or remission, and improve the quality of life. Otherwise, if treated negatively and irregularly, it may develop into serious disability or lead to serious complications and death. Misconception 3: Blindly believe in a certain Chinese or Western medicine, and cannot correctly understand the toxic side effects of Chinese and Western medicines. Correct understanding: Chinese and Western medicines have their own strengths and should complement each other’s weaknesses. Most of the immunosuppressants of western drugs have evidence-based medical research, and their efficacy is certain, but their toxic side effects are large. Although the effect of Chinese medicine is mild, some anti-rheumatic Chinese medicines are also very toxic drugs, for example, Leigongteng can inhibit reproductive function and acute granulocyte deficiency, if paralyzed without attention to monitoring and blindly applied, can lead to serious consequences.