10 Important Arthritis Facts All Women Should Know
Maybe you remember your grandma’s swollen knuckles or that she often left her rings in a dish near the kitchen sink, or perhaps you chalk up your joint pain to the lingering effects of your college basketball days. No matter the connection, arthritis is likely to touch your life either directly or indirectly. May is National Arthritis Month, and the Arthritis Foundation reminds us that, “Nearly 53 million adults and 300,000 children have some type of arthritis.” Because adult women are more likely than men or children to be diagnosed with arthritis, it’s important that women know the facts.
Affects More Women than Men…
Women might not outnumber men in the boardroom: Arthritis Foundation reports, “Doctor-diagnosed arthritis is more common in women (26 percent) than in men (18 percent). In some types, such as rheumatoid arthritis, women far outnumber men.”
Not an “Old Person” Disease…
Although incidences of arthritis do increase with age, the Arthritis Foundation reports, “Two-thirds of people with arthritis are under age 65”
Arthritis is not One Illness…
“Arthritis” is a blanket term for over 100 different diseases including some with which you might already be familiar: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Ostearthritis, Fibromyalgia and Gout.
You Might have Arthritis If…
If you have any of the following symptoms, you might have arthritis: Pain, stiffness or swelling in one or more joints; tenderness in your joints; difficulty managing daily activities or difficulty moving a joint; warmth or redness in a joint.
Arthritis is Number One…
Arthritis is the top cause of disability in the United States. It causes a greater number of physical limitations than diabetes, heart disease or cancer.
Missed Work and Lost Wages…
People with arthritis or another rheumatic condition miss more workdays annually due to illness and injury than do adults with other medical conditions. The combined lost workdays of just two types of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, account for 172 million workdays each year. According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis leads to “$156 billion annually in lost wages and medical expenses.”
Time to See a Doctor…
With some types of arthritis, prompt treatment is required in order to avoid permanent damage to the joints. Arthritis can be difficult to diagnose, so be persistent. Start with a general practitioner. If your doctor cannot determine the cause of your pain or feels unable to treat your arthritis, she or he may send you to a rheumatologist, a doctor that specializes in arthritis and other disease of the bones, joints and muscles.
Treatment Options are Available…
There are numerous treatment options available for arthritis and related conditions including medications, joint surgery and natural remedies such as herbs, supplements and hot/cold therapy. A doctor will help determine which options are best for you based on the type of arthritic condition you have and your overall health.
Lighten the Load…
If you have arthritis and you are overweight or obese, you are not being a friend to your joints. Every pound that you lose takes the equivalent of four pounds of pressure off each of your knees.
Activity Helps…
Although moving arthritis joints can be painful, staying active is one of the best antidotes to arthritis pain and it helps ward off mobility issues due to arthritis. Both resistance and endurance exercises will help the majority of arthritis patients.
If you or a family member suffer from arthritis, or you just want to become involved to support finding a cure, the Arthritis Foundation has many opportunities across the United States.
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