One in Five Americans may have Arthritis

Apparently twenty percent of Americans will have or be diagnosed with arthritis a new poll suggests.   This poll goes on to say that of the people diagnosed with arthritis over one third of them will be limited in their daily activities directly because of this disease.

This poll looked at doctor-diagnosed arthritis reports from 2004 to 2005 using the data from a national survey of over thirty thousand people.   The results form these reports revealed that over twenty-one percent of U.S. adults received the diagnosis of arthritis and over eight percent of this population were limited in their activities.

One in Five Americans may have Arthritis

Examining common trends and population demographics revealed that women, older adults, obese, and physically inactive individuals were at higher risks.   Some of the hypothesis for this distribution comes down to genetics, education, and life style.

The highest rates of incidence of arthritis were among those that were clinically obese with rates that nearly doubled those of people with normal or under weight.   Prevalence for women was over one in four compared to one in seventeen for men.

While the gender difference does imply a genetic factor in arthritis, no definitive cause and effect relationship could be established between the obese people and their prevalence of arthritis.   Other studies do point to excess weight as a risk factor for various types of arthritis though exercise and activity was preventative.   The wear and tear excess weight puts on joints and bones is thought to trigger arthritic episodes in overweight people.

Looking ahead, more than 100.000 people will be diagnosed with arthritis this year in Canada alone.   The numbers are vastly greater for the United States.   Preventative measures do include maintaining a healthy weight and an active lifestyle.   Some forms of arthritis cannot be avoided but statistics show you can avoid being that one person in a room of five people.

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