Many of us enjoy having a drink at the end of a long day to help us unwind and relax, but now it seems that a drink may have some tangible health benefits.

That is because a new study has determined that drinking alcohol can ease the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis while also lessening the severity of the disease. The current findings are the result of research that looked at patients suffering from arthritis in relation to how much they drank.

In the study in question, researchers compared alcohol consumption between 873 patients who had arthritis and 1004 people who did not. Drinking profiles were obtained for both groups for the month leading up to the study.

Information pertaining to arthritis was gathered by way of questionnaires, X-rays and blood tests. What the researchers observed was that people who drank the most reported symptoms (joint pain and swelling) that were less severe than those individuals who drank little to no alcohol. Furthermore, people classified as non-drinkers were four times more likely to develop arthritis than people who had more than 10 drinks per month.

Less severe symptoms in the drinking group were confirmed by X-rays, which revealed less damage to the joints, and blood tests, which indicated lower levels of inflammation.

The authors of the study admit that they are at a bit of a loss in explaining why alcohol has a protective effect. Previous work has suggested that alcohol has an inhibitory effect on the immune system, which may in turn affect the progression of arthritis. Once arthritis begins, the anti-inflammatory and pain relieving capabilities of alcohol might come into play reducing the manifestation of symptoms.

More work needs to be done to confirm any relationships between alcohol consumption and arthritis, and health experts warn that this is not a justification for people to go out and start drinking profusely.

After all, excessive consumption of alcohol has many well-documented negative health and social consequences, and people should always drink responsibly. Also, some arthritis medications can severely damage the liver when taken in conjunction with large quantities of alcohol.

Arthritis is a condition that results in stiffness and difficulty in moving around. Arthritis can lead to pain and swelling of the joints, though it can also affect your organs, including your skin and eyes.

Though some forms of arthritis stem from aging or injury (osteoarthritis), rheumatoid arthritis results when our own immune system attacks our tissue. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect people of any age, including children.

There are many different forms of arthritis, so a proper diagnosis requires an examination by your physician. If you have joint pain or suspect you may be suffering from arthritis, consult your doctor as soon as possible. For more information, visit the website for the Arthritis Foundation or the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).