A new study has found that individuals who drink alcohol more frequently may be able to reduce the severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms.

Researchers studied 873 patients with RA and compared them to more than 1,000 people without the disease. Participants answered questions on how frequently they had drunk alcohol in the month before the study, had x-rays and blood tests, and an experienced research nurse examined their joints.

"We found that patients who had drunk alcohol most frequently had symptoms that were less severe than those who had never drunk alcohol or only drunk it infrequently," said the study’s lead author, Gerry Wilson. "X-rays showed there was less damage to joints, blood tests showed lower levels of inflammation, and there was less joint pain, swelling and disability."

Researchers also found that non-drinkers were four times more likely to develop RA than people who drank alcohol on more than 10 days a month.

RA is an auto-immune disease that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It is estimated to affect more than 2 million people.

Exercise and relaxation as well as hot or cold joint therapy are believed to help manage the symptoms of the disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, alternative treatments include thunder god vine, certain plant oils, fish oil and tai chi.