According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, the sixth most prevalent chronic condition in the United States 50+ population is arthritis. 17.4% of adults over age 50 have either rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, meaning the prevalence could be even higher when taking into account the over 100 other types of arthritis.
The month of May is celebrated as Arthritis Action Month nationally. This month-long observance is an opportunity to take action to change the course of arthritis, whether it directly or indirectly impacts you and those you love. There are many ways that you can take action, including:
One of the most effective ways to manage a chronic health condition like arthritis, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure, is to become an effective self-manager. The folks at Arthritis Today magazine have put together a listing from A-Z of 26 things you can do to get started on self-managing your arthritis. You …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Arthritis Foundation asked the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to assist in identifying "ways to reduce disability and improve the function and quality of life for people living with chronic illness". In a report released at the end of January 2012, the IOM did just that. …
Living Well with Chronic Illness: A Call for Public Health Action Read More »
Health professionals generally agree that patients with arthritis tend to feel more aches and pains during winter, or colder seasons. However, there is little or no scientific proof that colder weather itself is what impacts our joints. Many believe it is instead the reaction of our bodies to the colder weather and what we do …
Health based researchers are constantly looking for the next big thing; the "wonder drug" that will help relieve pain and improve your health. Well, it looks like many researchers have hit on the same concept, which may turn out to be the biggest "wonder drug" for individuals with chronic conditions. Exercise. Good, old-fashioned movement may …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a new video describing a proven way of relieving arthritis pain – physical activity. It is recommended that adults should get moderate physical activity 5 days a week for 30 minutes each day. You can even exercise in increments as few as 10 minutes at …
Do you or does someone you know have one of the more than 100 forms of arthritis? Consider self-enrollment into the Arthritis Internet Registry (AIR), a tool developed by the Arthritis Foundation in partnership with the National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases and Quest Diagnostics. This databank can assist researchers with understanding arthritic conditions as …
Here in the United States, rivalries are all around us. From brand rivalries (Coke vs Pepsi) to political rivalries (Democratic vs Republican) to advertised rivalries (Mac vs PC) to college and professional sports rivalries (Cardinals vs Cubs), even to some time ago when your high school student body would rally together to excel in all …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released their latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). It features a report from Jennifer M. Hootman, PhD, Arthritis Program, that looks at "State-Specific Prevalence of No Leisure-Time Physical Activity Among Adults With and Without Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis – United States, 2009". The report can be found …
Weekly Report Looks at Physical Activity Prevalence Read More »