Date:
Who Has Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is by far the most common type of arthritis,
and the percentage of people who have it grows higher with age. An
estimated 27 million Americans age 25 and older have osteoarthritis.
Although osteoarthritis is more common in older people, younger people
can develop it - usually as the result of a joint injury, a joint
malformation, or a genetic defect in joint cartilage. Both men and
women have the disease. Before age 45, more men than women have
osteoarthritis, after age 45, it is more common in women. It is also
more likely to occur in people who are overweight and in those with
jobs that stress particular joints.
As the population ages, the number of people with osteoarthritis will
only grow. By 2030, 20 percent of Americans - about 72 million people -
will have passed their 65th birthday and will be at high risk for the
disease.
What Areas Does Osteoarthritis Affect?
Outline of a woman highlighting neck, spine, hips, fingers, and knees to show common locations of osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis most often occurs in the hands (at the ends of the
fingers and thumbs), spine (neck and lower back), knees, and hips.
How Does Osteoarthritis Affect People?
People with osteoarthritis usually experience joint pain and stiffness.
The most commonly affected joints are those at the ends of the fingers
(closest to the nail), thumbs, neck, lower back, knees, and hips.
Osteoarthritis affects different people differently. Although in some
people it progresses quickly, in most individuals joint damage develops
gradually over years. In some people, osteoarthritis is relatively mild
and interferes little with day-to-day-life, in others, it causes
significant pain and disability.
While osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints, its effects are not
just physical. In many people with osteoarthritis, lifestyle and
finances also decline.
Lifestyle effects include
- depression
- anxiety
- feelings of helplessness
- limitations on daily activities
- job limitations
- difficulty participating in everyday personal and family joys and responsibilities.
Financial effects include
- the cost of treatment
- wages lost because of disability.
Fortunately, most people with osteoarthritis live active, productive lives despite these limitations. They do so by using treatment strategies such rest and exercise, pain relief medications, education and support programs, learning self-care, and having a "good attitude."
Related Products
More Arthritis Information
Relief For Arthritis Sufferers
... taking less energy to clean out the toxic waste in your body. The less toxic waste you have in your body the less your arthritis will hurt. We are the only species that eats cooked foods and we are the only species that suffer with so many degenerative diseases. Arthritis is one of the main degenerative ...
What Are Some Examples Of Rheumatic Diseases
... the cartilage, which begins to fray and may wear away entirely. There is also damage to the bond stock of the joint. Osteoarthritis can cause joint pain and stiffness. Disability results most often when the disease affects the spine and the weight-bearing joints (the knees and hips). Rheumatoid arthritis ...
Diagnosing And Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
... daily activities. Stress reduction: People with rheumatoid arthritis face emotional challenges as well as physical ones. The emotions they feel because of the disease-fear, anger, and frustration-combined with any pain and physical limitations can increase their stress level. Although there is no evidence ...
Osteoarthritis Basics The Joint And Its Parts
... produces synovial fluid. The capsule and fluid protect the cartilage, muscles, and connective tissues. A Joint With Severe Osteoarthritis images of a joint with osteoarthritis 2nd joint here With osteoarthritis, the cartilage becomes worn away. Spurs grow out from the edge of the bone, and synovial fluid ...
What Causes Juvenile Arthritis
... considered in children with an unexplained limp or excessive clumsiness. No single test can be used to diagnose JA. A doctor diagnoses JA by carefully examining the patient and considering his or her medical history and the results of tests that help confirm JA or rule out other conditions. Specific findings ...
... breakdown, thus making them more susceptible to disease. In the future, a test to determine who carries the genetic defect (or defects) could help people reduce their risk for osteoarthritis by making lifestyle adjustments. Tissue engineering This technology involves removing cells from a healthy part ...
How Rheumatoid Arthritis Develops And Progresses
... These effects lead to the pain and joint damage often seen in rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers studying rheumatoid arthritis now believe that it begins to damage bones during the first year or two that a person has the disease, one reason why early diagnosis and treatment are so important. Other Parts ...
What Is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
... individual spots of the rash are usually the size of a quarter or smaller. They are present for a few minutes to a few hours, and then disappear without any changes in the skin. The rash may move from one part of the body to another. 2. Oligoarthritis (formerly known as pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid ...
... diagnosis classification. Diagnosis is based on the presence of widespread pain (at least 3 months duration) and tenderness on 11 of 18 pressure points. Full criteria.* * May often co-occur (up to 25-65%) with other rheumatic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), ...
... characterized by pain, redness, swelling, and warmth lasting days to weeks. Pain may be mild or excruciating. Most initial attacks occur in lower extremities. The typical presentation in the metatarsophalageal joint of the great toe (podagra) is the presenting joint for 50% of people with gout. About ...
Questions And Answers About Arthritis And Rheumatic Diseases
... sheets and booklets that provide more information about specific forms of arthritis and rheumatic diseases. If you have further questions after reading this information, you may wish to discuss them with your doctor. What Is Arthritis and What Are Rheumatic Diseases? Arthritis literally means joint inflammation. ...
How Are Rheumatic Diseases Diagnosed
... bacteria or viruses (found in patients with infectious arthritis), or crystals in the joint (found in patients with gout or other types of crystal-induced arthritis). To obtain a specimen, the doctor injects a local anesthetic, then inserts a needle into the joint to withdraw the synovial fluid into a ...
... protect joints, minimize pain, perform activities of daily living, and conserve energy. Dietitians: health professionals who teach ways to use a good diet to improve health and maintain a healthy weight. Nurse educators: nurses who specialize in helping patients understand their overall condition and ...