Make A Difference This Month

This month provides a fantastic opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those that suffer from arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation has organized an event, “Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis” which will raise money to help people with arthritis.

Chances are you or someone you know has arthritis. It causes pain, stiffness and sometimes swelling in or around joints. This can make it hard to do the movements you rely on every day for work or taking care of your family.

If you are a resident of San Diego County, I invite you to help others that have difficulty maintaining the active lifestyle we are fortunate to enjoy. I ask you be active for those that cannot be active. Either click on this “Jingle Bell” logo to register to participate as a runner/walker or to contribute in honor of someone with the disease.

If you do not live in San Diego, follow this link to find an event in your state (you are also able to contribute at this site in honor of someone that suffers from the disease):



The number of Americans with arthritis or chronic joint symptoms is staggering and requires attention:

• 1985 - 35 million
• 1990 - 37.9 million
• 1998 - nearly 43 million (1 in 6 people)
• 2006 – 46 million (nearly 1 in 5 adults)
  
• Arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic health problems and the nation’s leading cause of disability among Americans over age 15.
• Arthritis is second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability.
• Arthritis limits everyday activities such as walking, dressing and bathing for more than 7 million Americans.
• Arthritis results in 39 million physician visits and more than a half million hospitalizations.
• Costs to the U.S. economy totals more than $86.2 billion annually.
• Arthritis affects people in all age groups including nearly 300,000 children.
• Baby boomers are now at prime risk. More than half those affected are under age 65.
• Half of those Americans with arthritis don’t think anything can be done to help them.
• Arthritis refers to more than 100 different diseases that affect areas in or around joints.
• Arthritis strikes women more often than men.

Overall arthritis:

• Women - 24.3 million of the people with doctor-diagnosed arthritis
• Men - 17.1 million of the people with doctor-diagnosed arthritis
  

With this information, and this being the month in which the Arthritis Foundation is actively seeking your help by giving you the opportunity to put your enjoyment for activity to fruitful use for others, I will spend the remainder of this week providing some insight, dispelling myths and providing exercise tips for the disease called “Arthritis”.

Please share this information with those you care about.