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The No. 1 Cause of Disability:
Arthritis
Think of how many times you've
heard people say, as they groaned getting out of a chair,
"I guess I'm getting old."
"Anyone who has significant [joint] pain should get an
evaluation," says David S. Pisetsky, M.D., professor of
rheumatology at Duke University.
Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the United
States. Nearly 70 million Americans reported having diagnosed
arthritis or chronic joint symptoms in a Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) survey conducted in 2001.
Unfortunately, many people with arthritis believe that
nothing can be done. The CDC found that half of the people in
the survey had not seen a doctor for their arthritis
symptoms. Yet, early treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
often is critical. Most of the damage to joints can occur
within the first two years of onset of RA, experts
say.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a disease that affects
the joints. Some forms of arthritis also affect muscles and
connective tissue, including the skin and internal organs.
There are 100 types of arthritis. Older adults most often
develop osteoarthritis (OA), the most common type of
arthritis. OA is a degenerative joint disease that can come
on gradually or suddenly, says Dr. Pisetsky.
Rheumatoid arthritis is the second most common type of
arthritis, according to the National Institute of Arthritis
and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). It is an
inflammatory disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness
and loss of function in the joints. This loss of function is
in a symmetrical pattern: If one knee or hand is involved,
usually the other one is also. RA can also affect other parts
of the body besides the joints. In addition, people with the
disease may have fatigue, occasional fever and a general
sense of not feeling well.
Causes of arthritis
The causes of arthritis vary.
Arthritis can be degenerative (such as OA) or inflammatory
(such as RA). In OA, the process affects the cartilage at the
ends of bones. Worn cartilage no longer allows bones to slide
smoothly past each other. RA is a disease that affects the
body's immune system. RA causes inflammation in the joint
lining.
Researchers have identified some risk factors for arthritis.
RA and arthritis caused by lupus are more common in women,
but arthritis caused by ankylosing spondylitis is more common
in men. Gout is more common in older men. Some forms of
arthritis tend to run in families. Some arthritis can develop
from trauma to a joint or through overuse. Studies have also
shown that OA can be caused by a genetic defect in components
of cartilage called collagen.
Experts say that what's critical in arthritis is an early
diagnosis. That way, treatment can begin before too much
damage occurs to the joints. The three main symptoms of
arthritis are joint pain that lasts for more than two weeks,
joint stiffness or an inability to move the joint normally,
and occasionally swelling. "Don't ignore joint
pain," Dr. Pisetsky warns.
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