Arthritis

BINGHAMTON, NY - Arthritis affects more than 42 million Americans, or nearly one out of six people. It is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Claudia Edwards, Director, of the Broome County Health Department states that anyone can get arthritis. It affects people of all ages, including as many as 285, 000 children nationwide.

By 2020, an estimated 60 million Americans, or almost 20 percent of the population, will be affected by arthritis, and more than 11 million will become disabled by this disease. Ms. Edwards states that the first step toward coping with arthritis is to learn the symptoms and treatment for this disease.

Arthritis is chronic pain and swelling in the joints and tissues which causes limited movement in the body. The three most prevalent forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, says Ms. Edwards.

Osteoarthritis affects more than 20 million Americans. The risk of having osteoarthritis increases as people get older. Ms. Edwards says that, in addition to advancing age, risk factors for osteoarthritis include injury to a joint, repetitive joint use and obesity.

In fibromyalgia, which affects five million Americans, widespread pain affects the muscles and attachments to the bone.

Rheumatoid arthritis, a common form of arthritis that causes inflammation in the lining of the joints and other internal organs, affects more than two million people in the United States. Two to three times more women are affected than men.

Many things can be done to reduce the impact of arthritis on everyday life, says Ms. Edwards. The key is early diagnosis and a treatment plan that is tailored to each individual's needs. There are a number of ways to reduce the symptoms of arthritis, and improve the quality of daily activities including:

• Rest and physical activity: People with a rheumatic disease need to balance the two, with more rest when the disease is active and more physical activity when it is not. Rest helps reduce active joint inflammation, pain, and fights fatigue. Regular physical activity is important to maintain strong and healthy muscles. It can help reduce pain and help people sleep well, maintain a positive attitude and lose weight.
• Stress reduction: Regular rest periods can help. Participating in physical activity programs and support groups, and good communication with one's healthcare team are other ways to reduce stress.
• Eating plan: A nutritious, daily eating plan with enough, but not an excess of calories, protein and calcium is important.
• Medications: Many people who have arthritis take medications. Some medications are used only for pain relief; others are used to reduce inflammation. It is important to carefully follow the health care provider's directions regarding medications. People who take medications for arthritis must be careful about drinking alcoholic beverages.
• Many products are available to assist in daily living, such as zipper pullers; devises to help get on and off chairs, toilet seats and beds, long-handled shoe horns, all of these products can reduce discomfort associated with daily activities.

For more information on arthritis, contact the Broome County chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, at 607-798-8048, the Broome County Health Department at 607.778.3921, or the New York State Health Department at 518.486.7283.

CONTACT:

Diane O'Hora, Supervising Public Health Educator,
Broome County Health Department, 607.778.3921
email: dohora@co.broome.ny.us

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