When the body recognizes an infection or something harmful, our immune system reacts and becomes inflamed. This inflammation attacks the bacteria or threat, which can include infection, for example. However, sometimes the inflammation can last too long. The result can be rheumatoid arthritis, gout and other inflammatory diseases. About 1.5 million people in the United States have rheumatoid arthritis, and out of that number nearly three times as many women have the disease compared to men, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Tune in to hear Mercy Medical Center’s Dr. Alexander Hannan, rheumatologist, discuss inflammatory conditions like gout, rheumatoid arthritis and more.