Among adults aged 65 and older, 50% report ever having been diagnosed with arthritis. Among adults aged 45 to 65 years, 31% report ever having been diagnosed with arthritis. Among adults aged 18 to 45 years, 7% report ever having been diagnosed with arthritis.
While 85% of persons exhibit evidence of OA after age 70, more than 50% of the population will have radiographic evidence of the disease in at least one joint by age 65.
Almost half of adults 65 and older have some form of arthritis, according to the CDC. Arthritis also more common in people with other chronic conditions, such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Aging changes in the musculoskeletal system increase the propensity to OA but the joints affected and the severity of disease are most closely related to other OA risk factors such as joint injury, obesity, genetics, and anatomical factors that affect joint mechanics.
While arthritis is more common among older adults, arthritis develops in younger people too1: Among adults aged 65 and older, 50% report ever having been diagnosed with arthritis.
It most commonly starts among people between the ages of 40 and 60. It's more common in women than men. There are drugs that can slow down an over-active immune system and therefore reduce the pain and swelling in joints. These are called disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and include biological therapies.
The fact is, there is no sure way to prevent arthritis. But you can help reduce your risk and delay the potential onset of certain types of arthritis. If you have healthy joints right now, do all you can now to maintain mobility and function and avoid the pain and disability associated with arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes pain and swelling in different joints in the body and can also affect the internal organs. It's possible to live a long life with RA, but it is estimated that the disease can potentially reduce life expectancy by 3 to 10 years.
While arthritis is common as you age, it's not inevitable. More than 32 million Americans suffer from OA, and it can range in severity from mild to debilitating. Once diagnosed, treatment typically focuses on slowing the progression of the disease and managing the pain.
Joint Pain Isn't Inevitable With Age. As you age, you might expect that some level of joint pain or arthritis is just part of the territory. Experts now say that may not be the case if you start making healthy changes early. Pain showing up as people age is a real thing.
It most often develops in people in their mid-40s or older. It's also more common in women and people with a family history of the condition. But it can occur at any age as a result of an injury or be associated with other joint-related conditions, such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis.
If you have arthritis, participating in joint-friendly physical activity can improve your arthritis pain, function, mood, and quality of life. Joint-friendly physical activities are low-impact, which means they put less stress on the body, reducing the risk of injury.
Experts confirm that once OA starts, it may take years to reach a severe stage. However, in extreme cases, OA progresses rapidly to complete the destruction of the cartilage within a few months. Some of the factors that determine the rate of OA progression include: The severity of your symptoms at the time of diagnosis.
Pushing through pain is not the thing to do. If your joints are hot or swollen, exercise can increase the damage and cause more pain. Remember, arthritis pain and pain from a strenuous workout are not the same. A little soreness a day or two after a workout is OK.
The most common triggers of an OA flare are overdoing an activity or trauma to the joint. Other triggers can include bone spurs, stress, repetitive motions, cold weather, a change in barometric pressure, an infection or weight gain.
Most forms of arthritis are thought to be caused by a fault in the immune system that causes the body to attack its own tissues in the joints. This may be inherited genetically. Other forms of arthritis can be caused by problems with the immune system or by a metabolic condition, such as gout.
Common but Not Inevitable
It has been established that approximately 70% of people over the age of 65 have X-ray evidence of osteoarthritis, but not all of them experience symptoms.
You are more likely to get arthritis in your hands if: You're older. Osteoarthritis is commonly seen after age 50. Rheumatoid arthritis typically first appears between the age of 35 and 50.
In general, the first sign of arthritis is pain, also called arthralgia. This can feel like a dull ache or a burning sensation. Often, pain starts after you've used the joint a lot, for example, if you've been gardening or if you just walked up a flight of stairs. Some people feel soreness first thing in the morning.