| FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- As America's baby boomers move into late middle age, arthritis and other rheumatic conditions are taking up an ever larger chunk of health-care spending, a federal study warns. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, which spans the six years from 1997 to 2003, detected a 25 percent jump in the number of adult Americans with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions. Overall, more than 46 million people now suffer from arthritis, compared to 36.8 million in 1997. That means more than one in every five adult Americans now has arthritis, the CDC says. The total annual tab to care for these patients: almost $81 billion. The $81 billion figure represents three percent of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), "a startling figure," said Louise Murphy, an Atlanta epidemiologist who worked with the CDC on the report. Something must be done to turn these figures around, experts say. "An aging population isn't something that we can control, but you can try to make the population healthier. We really have to push public health programs that improve food consumption and the ability to exercise," said Edward Yelin, professor of medicine and health at the University of California, San Francisco, and lead author of the study. Read the full article here. |
U.S. Arthritis Numbers, Costs Soaring
Thu, 03 May 2007 16:09:58 GMT | in Healthy Living
Exercise may fend off arthritis in women
Thu, 05 Apr 2007 17:05:15 GMT | in Healthy Living
| Get moving, Grandma! Exercise isn't just about improving your heart and fighting flab that comes with aging. It may also be the answer to preventing stiff, achy joints that can lead to debilitating arthritis. An Australian study suggests the more time older women spend exercising, the better their chances are of staying pain-free from one of the biggest chronic conditions plaguing developed countries. Read the full article here. |
Where’s an antioxidant when you need it?
Tue, 06 Dec 2005 07:00:00 GMT | in Healthy Living
| Has anyone seen a free radical lately? I haven’t. But according to current research, these little devils can damage cells in your body, accelerating the progression of cancer, heart disease and other age-related diseases. Turns out the best protection against damage from radicals is in antioxidants. In fact, since learning about the protective properties of antioxidants, some manufacturers are now adding them to skin care and health products—and, I’ve noticed, to some next generation joint care formulas. Fortunately, antioxidants are also naturally found in lots of nutritious foods and vitamins. So the next time you’re snacking, go for something rich in antioxidants. Try this:
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NIH study sufferers makes a splash.
Tue, 22 Nov 2005 07:00:00 GMT | in Healthy Living
| Remember that five-year NIH government study on arthritis I mentioned in my first post? The reaction is starting to come in and it generally looks positive. The media (and everyone in the natural supplements industry, of course) are making noise about the study’s findings, including ABC News, who reported on November 14th: The natural supplements glucosamine and chondroitin appear to beat the leading prescription drug for very painful forms of arthritis, according to a much anticipated study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. I’m glad they recognize that this is big news. After all, the Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention was the far and away the most rigorous testing ever conducted on the combined effects of Glucosamine & Chondroitin on osteoarthritis knee pain. Plus, 21 million Americans (like me), deal daily with joint discomfort. We’re a big audience. Whatever the reason behind it, all this attention is good. If there’s an affordable, natural treatment that works, the world should know. |
