Arthritis Facts

The consequences of arthritis include joint disfigurement and constrained joint mobility.

Statistics of Americans with arthritis or chronic joint symptoms;

• 1985 – 35 million

• 1990 – 37.
9 million

• 1998 – nearly 43 million [1 in 6 people]

• 2006 – 46 million [nearly 1 in 5 adults]

• Arthritis is said to be one of the most ubiquitous chronic HEALTH problems and is leading cause of disability among Americans over age 15.

• Arthritis is second only to heart disease as grounds of work disability.

• Arthritis limits daily activities such as walking- dressing and bathing for more than 7 million Americans.

• Arthritis results in 39 million doctor visits and more than a half million hospitalizations.

• Arthritis influences people in all age groups together with nearly 300-000 children.

• Baby boomers are now at chief jeopardy.
More than half those affected are under age 65.

• Arthritis is a term used to refer to more than hundred different diseases that concern areas in or around joints.

General Information;

• Women – 24.
3 million of the people with arthritis diagnosed by a doctor

• Men – 17.
1 million of the people with arthritis diagnosed by a doctor

The disease also has an affect on other parts of the body.
Arthritis causes pain- loss of movement and sometimes swelling.
Some types of arthritis are;

• Osteoarthritis; a degenerative joint disease in which the cartilage that covers the ends of bones in the joint deteriorates- causing pain and loss of movement as bone begins to rub against bone.
It is the most prevalent form of arthritis.

• Rheumatoid arthritis; an autoimmune disease in which the joint lining becomes inflamed as part of the body’s immune system activity.
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most serious and disabling types- affecting mostly women.

• Gout is a form which mostly affects men.
It is usually the result of a defect in body chemistry.
This painful condition most often attacks small joints- especially the big toe.
Fortunately- gout almost always can be completely controlled with medication and changes in diet.

• Ankylosing spondylitis is a type that affects the spine.
As a result of inflammation- the bones of the spine grow together.

• Juvenile arthritis is a common term for all types of arthritis that come about in children.
Children may develop juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or childhood forms of lupus- Ankylosing spondylitis or other types of arthritis.

• Systemic lupus erythematosus [lupus]; a severe disorder that can agitate and damage joints and other connective tissues all over the body.

• Scleroderma; a disease of the connective tissues of the body that causes a thickening and hardening of the skin.

• Fibromyalgia; a form in which extensive pain affects the muscles and attachments to the bone.
It affects mostly women.

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