A new survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that more than 20% of all adults in the United States have arthritis. And as a gauge of the effect of this group of diseases, about one-third of affected individuals are limited in their ability stay active. If roughly two in 10 adults are diagnosed with arthritis, then that brings the country’s total to more than 46 million people.
The numbers are derived from an annual survey of 30,000 people. It covered all kinds of arthritis types, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, gout, and lupus. About eight percent of U.S. adults report having limited activity because of their arthritic pain — a number that spans out to more than 17 million people. These are glaring statistics that document the toll arthritis takes on our society.
Not surprisingly, joint pain is a major problem for people who are obese. An incredible 31% of all obese individuals have arthritis because of the strain extra weight puts on joints. This compares to 16% of people who are at normal weight. Thus, the arthritis rates are mimicking the rise in obesity, as about 30% of the U.S. population meets obesity figures.
If you add in being overweight, then that number climbs to 60%. While exercise is known to help prevent arthritis, the CDC estimates that only 22% of Americans get the requisite 30 minutes a day, five times a week.
To complement this story, here are your most preventable forms of arthritis — those you can successfully keep at bay by making certain lifestyle changes:
1) Osteoarthritis: Exercise every day and eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and whole grains. (One good supplement for osteoarthritis prevention is cod liver oil.)
2) Carpal tunnel syndrome: If you work a repetitive-motion job, start off each day with warm-up exercises and take frequent breaks to relax your wrists.
3) Tendonitis: Many nutrients are needed in order to keep joints strong, so a healthy diet is essential, and perhaps a multivitamin/mineral each day. Make sure you stretch well before any activities and don’t constantly overwork any particular muscle.
4) Gout: Limit your uric acid levels by reducing your intake of foods and beverage high in “purines.” These include alcohol, red meat, organ meat, shellfish, heavily salted seafood, sugar, fried foods, caffeine, turkey, peas, beans, and overly high levels of vitamins C and B3.
5) Bursitis: Any forceful or repeated motion can damage bursa (the small fluid sacs between your tendons and bones that help prevent undue friction) in aging joints. Stretch our your muscles before any physical activity. Take breaks from any repetitive tasks. When you are putting a lot of weight on any joint, such as your elbows or knees, cushion your joint to protect your bursa. Use elbow pads, cushioned chairs, or kneepads. Try not to sit still for a prolonged period of time. Finally, practice good posture.
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Tags: exercise, obesity
