Most people only know arthritis to be a painful inflammation and/or stiffness of the joints, but there’s much more to it. Currently, there are more than 100 types of diagnosable arthritis. Some of the most common types include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter’s syndrome, and gout among others.
Here are some facts you might not know about arthritis:
Being Overweight Increases the Risk of Arthritis
Obesity has been directly linked to osteoarthritis (OA) by many studies. According to recent surveys, more than half of North American population is overweight. Obesity mainly affects the weight-bearing joints like the knees and the hips which increase the risk OA.
Arthritis Is Among the 5 Most Costly Conditions for Adults
Statistics indicate that it is spent more than $86 billion a year on arthritis conditions. World over, there are more than 100 million outpatients visits reported every year. More than $124 billion is lost in wages and medical expenses among other indirect expenses.
Arthritis Dates Back to Centuries Away
While most people believe that arthritis is a modern disease brought about by careless lifestyles, evidence suggests the disease many centuries ago. In fact, arthritis is one of the oldest diseases affecting human beings. Studies have discovered remains of people with arthritis dating back to more than 500,000 years ago.
Drinking Tea vs Drinking Coffee
According to a study conducted by American College of Rheumatology, older women that consumed two to three cups of tea a day experienced a reduced risk of arthritis by more than 60 percent. However, further studies indicated that women of the same age that drank more than four cups of decaffeinated coffee on a daily basis experienced double the risk of developing arthritis.
It Has a Major Impact on Life Quality
Patients diagnosed with arthritis sooner or later report significant functional limitations. About one in six complained after walking just a mile while about one in 22 had difficulty grasping objects. Studies further indicated that one in nine experienced problems climbing stairs.
Arthritis Affects People of All Ages, Gender and Races
People tend to think that arthritis is a disease that affects only old people, but that’s not the case. The truth of the matter is that children, even as young as a year old, can suffer from systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA). In fact, two-thirds of people suffering from arthritis are aged under 65 with an estimation of 300,000 children cases. However, the risk of getting arthritis increases with age.