May is recognized each year as National Arthritis Awareness Month. Arthritis is a disease that impacts more than 50 million Americans, making it the number one cause of disability in the country. That means 1 in every 5 adults, 300,000 children and countless families are affected by arthritis. These numbers are only going to keep growing—unless we take a stand

The Arthritis Foundation is leading the way to conquer arthritis and its effects through our advocacy efforts at the state level and on Capitol Hill, our cutting-edge scientific research, and our tools and resources that help you live your best life.

The first steps in conquering arthritis are learning the facts, understanding your condition and knowing that help is by your side. Below, you’ll find some telling statistics about the current impact of arthritis on the U.S. population, resources to help you learn more about arthritis, and additional information on how you can help and get involved.

Arthritis by the Numbers:

• Nearly 53 million adults have doctor-diagnosed arthritis; that number is expected to grow to 67 million by 2030.
• Almost 300,000 babies, kids and teens have arthritis or a rheumatic condition.
• Arthritis is the nation’s No. 1 cause of disability.
• Working-age men and women (ages 18 to 64) with arthritis are less likely to be employed than those of the same age without arthritis.
• 1/3 of working-age people with arthritis have limitations in their ability to work, the type of work they can do or whether they can work part time or full time.
• People with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis –two major kinds of arthritis – miss a combined 172 million workdays every year.
• Arthritis and related conditions account for more than $156 billion annually in lost wages and medical expenses.
• There are nearly 1 million hospitalizations each year due to arthritis.
• 57% of adults with heart disease have arthritis.
• 52% of adults with diabetes have arthritis.
• 44% of adults with high blood pressure have arthritis.
• 36% of adults who are obese have arthritis.
• 1/3 of adults with arthritis age 45 and older have either anxiety or depression.

Contact our office for your arthritis consultation today!