In the U.S. alone, over 54 million adults have arthritis. This number is projected to increase as the nation’s population gets older. There are two types of arthritis: osteoarthritis, the more common, and rheumatoid arthritis. Symptoms include joint pain, inflammation (swelling in or around one or more joints), and stiffness. The risk factors for arthritis that you can control include obesity, joint injuries, infection (bacteria and viruses), smoking, and occupation.
According to the latest studies, nearly 1 in 4 adults with arthritis in the U.S. reports severe joint pain. Nearly half of the number report persistent pain.
Joint pain is more severe among adults, especially those who have chronic health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, and among adults with a disability.
To decrease the risk of developing arthritis:
- Maintain a healthy weight, which includes healthy eating and physical activity
- Protect your joints from injuries by doing special exercises for those joints
- Make sure your worksite is free of fall hazards and has space, equipment, and tools that fit your physical ability and limitations
- Stop smoking.
There are other risk factors for arthritis that we can’t control. This includes biological sex (females are at higher risk for developing arthritis), age, and genetics. Those who are born with specific genes are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis.
Here are some guidelines for managing arthritis pain from professional organizations:
- Medications, such as over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Physical activity/exercise therapy
- Physical therapy
- Self-management education workshops or CDSMP
- Weight loss if overweight or obese
- Cognitive behavioral therapy. This therapy is a psychological, goal-directed approach that helps patients learn how to change physical, behavioral, and emotional triggers of stress and pain. Patients are also encouraged to manage their arthritis through non-pharmacological methods, if possible, or along with medications.
In medication selection for the treatment of arthritis, patients can use pharmacogenomic testing.
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