I see a lot of commercials on TV for arthritis medication. But I don't know anyone who has arthritis. Is it really that common?
There are two forms of arthritis: rheumatoid and osteoarthritis (OA). OA is the most common type in the United States. It affects one in three adults. In 2002 70 million people were diagosed with OA.
Arthritis is second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability. It limits daily activities such as walking, dressing and bathing for more than 7 million Americans.
Baby boomers (adults born between 1946 and 1964) are now at risk. Many people with arthritis don't think anything can be done to help them. Drugs such as you see advertised on television, exercise, and physical therapy are the first treatment options used. If these fail, injections or surgery can help.
For more information, visit the website of the Arthritis Foundation at http://www.arthritis.org.
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