Posted July 22, 2013
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 50 million adults in the United States have arthritis. Of those 50 million Americans, 21 million of them have it badly enough to have limited mobility. Although arthritis actually means joint inflammation, the term is used for over 100 conditions which deal with the joints as well as the tissue and connective tissue around the joints. Even if you have arthritis or know someone who has it, there are several things you may not know about the disease.
Not Just a Disease of the Elderly
Arthritis is generally thought of as a disease of the elderly, but roughly 294,000 children under the age of 18 have juvenile arthritis or a related disease. Children with arthritis may limp, especially in the morning when symptoms are the worst. Generally, children with arthritis are encouraged to stay active, because exercise helps to limit the symptoms of arthritis. Often, though, physical activities must be changed to reduce impact on the joints especially when there is a flare up.
Gender Unequal
Arthritis is more common among women than among men. 24.3% of women have arthritis while only 18.2% of men have it.
Obesity Increases the Risk
Obesity can lead to knee and other joint problems. One of these problems is arthritis. The more a person is overweight, the more the person is at risk for arthritis. Of those who are underweight or normal weight, 16.9% of them have arthritis. Overweight people bring the percentage up to 19.8%. Of those who are considered obese, 29.6% have arthritis. Of course, like with children, staying physically active when possible can help with arthritis symptoms.
