Older Americans with Arthritis Expected to Double by 2030
Arthritis is the leading cause of physical disability in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About 60 percent of the U.S. population age 65 or older now suffers from the disease, but that's expected to increase. By the year 2030, the number of older Americans with arthritis or chronic joint symptoms is expected to nearly double to 41.1 million, states a report recently released by the CDC. (Although there are more than 100 different types of arthritis, the most common is osteoarthritis, which is associated with aging, obesity and physical trauma to the joints.)
"This rise is impressive given the fact that such joint problems are already the leading cause of disability in the United States," write Dr. J.M. Hootman and colleagues in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. "The numbers are expected to rise because U.S. adults are living longer, the population is aging in general, and chronic diseases are more likely to be diagnosed and treated."
To estimate the prevalence of arthritis among older adults in 2030, the researchers applied data from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a nationwide survey that included questions about joint symptoms, to projected population data. (Chronic joint symptoms include pain, aching, stiffness or swelling of joints that is present on most days of the month.)
Get Our Latest News for FREE
According to the report, from the year 2005 to 2030, the percentage of the U.S. population made up of older adults is expected to increase from 13 percent to 20 percent. So if current rates remain stable, the number of older adults with arthritis or chronic joint symptoms will increase from 21.4 million to 41.1 million during this period.
Along with the increase in the number of people diagnosed with the disease, the costs to treat arthritis will also rise to a staggering amount. In 1997, the last year for which numbers are available, money used to treat arthritis and from lost earnings totaled $86.2 billion - equivalent to a chronic recession, notes Louise Murphy, an epidemiologist under contract with the CDC. It's hard to imagine what the costs will be in the year 2030! No doubt, arthritis contributes substantially to disability, poor health-related quality of life, and increased direct and indirect medical costs.
"It's an enormous problem," says Kevin Brennan, senior vice president of health policy at the Arthritis Foundation in Washington, D.C. "People with arthritis still die 10 years sooner than someone who does not have arthritis. We have a lot of work to do" [in the way of promoting self-help and prevention measures].
If you're among the millions of Americans who suffer from arthritis, don't be discouraged. There are things you can do to help you live well with the disease. God has given us many natural nutrients that will help us live a full life when we use them on a regular basis. For 30 years I've used these natural substances to help my patients and myself stay healthy and fit. And based on my years of research and experience, I've formulated Joint Support with glucosamine and chondroitin and six other nutrients and herbs that help your body maintain joint tissue.
I hope you'll try Joint Support today for yourself or a loved one who suffers from sore, aching joints after exercising. Joint Support works well for anyone who wants to maintain the health of their joints. It's a simple step toward living a healthy and abundant life, and one of the best things you can do to help keep the body God gave you healthy and strong.
