Private research done on the subject showed that arthritis affected more than 180 million people in India in the year 2017. Numbers also indicated that around 14% of the Indian population sought a doctor’s help every year for this joint disease. While these numbers might have spiked manifold in the past half a decade, prevalence of arthritis is, as it is, higher than diseases like diabetes, AIDS and cancer. This also makes it highly crucial to understand the various aspects of arthritis, something this guide will elaborate on by highlighting the key-facts about this disease.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is the generic term used to express a painful condition affecting joint, joint tissues and other connecting tissues. Arthritis is the degeneration (you may call it wear and tear) of cartilage and can affect any joint in your body. At its initial stage, arthritis would typically manifest itself through joint pain, swelling and noisy joints. Unexplained fever, fatigue, weight loss and swollen lymph glands can also be the symptoms of arthritis. In later stages, physical movement of joints may become difficult while chances of deformities can’t be ruled out either.
Fact No. 1: Arthritis has more than 100 types
Each form of arthritis demonstrates symptoms that show minor differences from other types. All types of arthritis share the typical characteristics of joint pain with stiffness.
Fact No 2: Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis causes pain to over 15 million adults every year throughout the globe and India contributes between 22% and 39% to global statistics. The disease area of osteoarthritis mainly impacts the joints of the hands as well as knees and hips. Indians face two major joint conditions as a second priority after osteoarthritis which include gout and rheumatoid arthritis.
Fact No. 3: India women are more prone to getting arthritis than Indian men
All factors combine to make Indian women highly vulnerable to arthritis development due to their severe vitamin D deficiency and obesity rates alongside bad diet choices. Knee illnesses tend to appear at age 50 among Indian women before they emerge at age 60 in Indian men.
Even in general, women are twofold more prone to arthritis than men.
Fact No. 4: Affects people of all age group
Scientific evidence shows that arthritis exists as an ailment that strikes patients regardless of their age bracket. People of all ages suffer from arthritis which includes children.
Fact No. 5: Kids get it, too
Childhood rheumatoid arthritis occurs the most frequently among this population group. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis develops during childhood between 1 and 3 years of age and 8 to 12 years of age.
Fact No. 6: Can lead to lifestyle diseases
Persons with arthritis face increased susceptibility to obesity together with blood pressure disorders and heart conditions.
Fact No. 7: Injuries increase the risk of arthritis
Previous joint injuries lead joints to have higher chances of developing osteoarthritis. Individuals who have experienced knee injuries will develop osteoarthritis at a higher rate of six times compared to others. Those who suffer hip injuries develop this condition at a rate that is three times higher than people without hip injuries.
Fact No. 8: Weather has no impact on arthritis
Many people wrongly believe that wet and cold weather environments bring about arthritis. Various experts state that weather conditions do not influence the occurrence of arthritis.
Fact No. 9: Animals also get osteoarthritis
Animals including dogs and cats suffer from osteoarthritis along with human beings.
Fact 10: Set to be the 4th most common cause of physical disability in India
Research indicates that arthritis will become the fourth leading reason for physical disability in India.
Fact 11: No cure for arthritis
Arthritis is not curable. Medical treatments and medications together with exercises and modified dietary habits and lifestyle modification help manage the condition.
