GreekChat.com Forums - Pretty shocking news about Arthritis

I saw this in the news and thought it was pretty eye-opening. Even though the Arthritis Foundation is AOII's international philanthropy, I guess I didn't realize how prevalent arthritis has become!

Quote:

Study: One in three adults suffers from arthritis
Cox News Service
10/25/2002

ATLANTA _ Painful, crippling arthritis makes daily life miserable for millions more Americans than previously estimated, a new federal study reports.

The survey issued Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta estimates almost 70 million American adults _ or one in three _ are afflicted with the chronic disease with consequences ranging from losing one's job to not being able to open a door.

Previous estimates were 43 million, and that included 300,000 children.

The new figure is a much better reflection of the prevalence of the disease because more reliable data-collecting methods were used, said Dr. Charles Helmick, a CDC medical epidemiologist. People were polled in each of the 50 states and were asked about chronic joint pain.

"This, in our minds, does not represent an epidemic but a better way of capturing people who are out there with arthritis or chronic joint symptoms," Helmick said.

An aging population, an obesity epidemic and the country's sedentary lifestyle are adding to the arthritis burden, he suggested.

Arthritis affects more women than men and more non-Hispanic whites and African-Americans than other ethnic groups.

Arthritis encompasses more than 100 diseases and conditions that affect the body's joints and other connective tissue. About 33 percent of Georgia adults, almost 1.9 million, are estimated to have arthritis. That ratio mirrors the national average.

The disease has significant societal implications because it can lead to long-term disability, loss of independence and expensive treatment, health experts say. Health care costs and lost work days add up to about $83 billion a year.

'`Look around you, to your left, to your right. One of those people probably has arthritis,'' said Tino Mantella, president and CEO of the Atlanta-based Arthritis Foundation. ``It's an alarming number. But when it comes to arthritis, many people don't take action. They think it's inevitable and nothing can be done about it.''

Medical approaches to treating arthritis have changed dramatically. Doctors now recommend moderate exercise, instead of staying home in bed, and have at hand a range of drugs that provide relief.

At the same time, the fitness craze that began in the 1970s is benching some baby boomers with arthritis. High-impact sports can lead to joint and cartilage damage, and ultimately, arthritis.

Patricia Guthrie writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. E-mail: pguthri@jc.com

-- PATRICIA GUTHRIE