Arthritis Statistics and Facts
June 26, 2009
Arthritis is a disease that occurs when certain joints in a person’s body can become inflamed. The inflammation can become disabling and crippling in some instances.
A person with arthritis may experience joint disfigurement or immobility in the afflicted area. Here are some recent statistics on arthritis in the United States.
In 1985, 35 million Americans suffered from arthritis. In 1990, that amount increased to 37.9 million Americans. Just eight years later, in 1998, it was said that one in six Americans now suffer from arthritis. That amount jumped to one in five people in 2006.
Arthritis has become one of the most omnipresent chronic health issues affecting Americans. It is the primary cause for disabilities in Americans aged fifteen and older. Heart related illnesses are the number one cause of disability.
Arthritis can limit a person’s mobility and stop him/her from doing some of the simplest actions such as walking, getting dressed or taking a shower. Over seven million people in the United States fall into this category.
Doctors are seen over 39 million times to treat arthritis. As much as half a million people that go to the hospital are going for arthritis complications.
Arthritis is not just an older person’s disease. It affects as many as 300,000 children in the United States. Right now, this disease is targeting people who are known as Baby Boomers. These are people that were born in the 1950’s and are now in their sixties. More women than men are diagnosed by a doctor with arthritis.
Arthritis affects a person’s ability to move because the joints are not coated properly with lubricant. As a result, the joints become swollen. There are many different types of arthritis. Some of these are:
• Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints where the cartilage that coats the bones begins to deteriorate. When the cartilage deteriorates the bones rub against each other.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis affects the immune system. As the immune system weakens, the lubrication that lines the joints becomes swollen. This is the most debilitating form of arthritis. It is most common amongst women.
• Gout. Gout is a form of arthritis that is most common in men. Gout goes after small joints such as the fingers and toes. It can be simply treated with medication and diet.


























