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May 15
2020

Arthritis Awareness Month

Posted by Scott  filed under Arthritis

May is Arthritis Awareness Month. Arthritis affects thousands of people worldwide. Arthritis Awareness Month was created to raise awareness of the debilitating pain caused by arthritis and as a way for people to come together to see what they can do about arthritis. This May, everyone should take the time to educate themselves on arthritis and learn about funding for an arthritis cure.

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis is inflammation of the joints. It can affect one joint or many joints. There are dozens of types of arthritis, but two of the most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The CDC estimates that 1 in 4 adults in the United States has some form of arthritis. As of now, arthritis is incurable, but there are treatments to help with pain.

Risk Factors

Certain factors may increase a person’s risk of developing arthritis. These factors may be lifestyle choices, or they may be innate factors that cannot be changed or controlled. These factors include:

  • Being overweight
  • Smoking
  • Jobs that involve a lot of bending at the knees
  • Joint injuries
  • A family history of arthritis
  • Age. Arthritis is most common in people 65 and older
  • Gender. Arthritis is more common in women than it is in men.

Causes

The different types of arthritis can be caused by different things. These causes include:

  • Infection or injury to the joints
  • Genetics
  • Autoimmune disorders

Symptoms

Symptoms of arthritis can manifest in a variety of different ways. These symptoms can include:

  • Joint pain
  • Swelling
  • Stiffness
  • Loss of range of motion
  • Redness around the joint
  • Fatigue

What You Can Do

Arthritis is a serious disease that affects millions. The Arthritis Foundation is an organization that recognizes this problem and aims to stop it. You can see about getting involved in some of their fundraising events, such as the Walk to Cure Arthritis here: https://www.arthritis.org/get-involved/?_ga=2.138284272.1540050476.1553112081-806150062.1553112081 and you can donate to the Arthritis Foundation here: https://www.arthritis.org/giving/donate.php?_ga=2.159780733.1540050476.1553112081-806150062.1553112081

References

Arthritis Foundation. “May is National Arthritis Awareness Month.” Retrieved from: http://blog.arthritis.org/news/arthritis-awareness-month/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). “Arthritis.” Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/risk-factors.htm

Macon, Brindles Lee. Reed-Guy, Laura. (2017). “Arthritis.” Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/health/arthritis

Mayo Clinic. (2018). “Arthritis.” Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350772

Nichols, Hannah. (2017). “What are the causes and types of arthritis?” Retrieved from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7621.php

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