Monday, September 12, 2011

Arthritis Week here on Pionair Health Watch!


To kick off our week long segment on arthritis... here are a few statistic you might not have known:

Arthritis Facts
Number of Americans with arthritis or chronic joint symptoms:
  • 1985 - 35 million
  • 1990 - 37.9 million
  • 1998 - nearly 43 million (1 in 6 people)
  • 2006 – 46 million (nearly 1 in 5 adults)
  • Arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic health problems and the nation’s leading cause of disability among Americans over age 15.
  • Arthritis is second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability.
  • Arthritis limits everyday activities such as walking, dressing and bathing for more than 7 million Americans.
  • Arthritis results in 39 million physician visits and more than a half million hospitalizations.
  • Costs to the U.S. economy totals $128 billion annually.
  • Arthritis affects people in all age groups including nearly 300,000 children.
  • Baby boomers are now at prime risk. More than half those affected are under age 65.
  • Half of those Americans with arthritis don’t think anything can be done to help them.
  • Arthritis refers to more than 100 different diseases that affect areas in or around joints.
  • Arthritis strikes women more often than men.

Overall arthritis:
  • Women - 24.3 million of the people with doctor-diagnosed arthritis
  • Men - 17.1 million of the people with doctor-diagnosed arthritis

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