Rheumatoid arthritis how many people are affected

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Rheumatoid arthritis Web report. Last updated: 25 Aug Topic: Chronic musculoskeletal conditions. View citation formats for this report Citation Close. MLA Rheumatoid arthritis. Vancouver Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Save web report. Enter the email address where you would like the PDF sent.

This address will not be used for any other purpose. Please enter your Email address Valid email required. Findings from this report: About , Australians 1. Because many people living with RA often experience chronic pain, it can be very beneficial to learn stress management and relaxation techniques, such as guided meditation, mindfulness, breathing exercises, biofeedback, journaling, and other holistic coping modalities.

RA can make simple tasks like getting out of bed and getting dressed in the morning challenging, let alone holding down a regular job. People with RA are more likely to:. In addition to the financial costs of this disease, the quality-of-life cost is high. Compared with those who do not have arthritis, people with RA are more likely to:. RA does not currently have a cure.

However, many effective treatments have been developed over the last 30 years, that aim to lower inflammation and pain, prevent joint damage, and slow the progression and damage of the disease. Rheumatoid arthritis RA is a progressive autoimmune disease that mainly affects your joints.

The exact cause of RA is unknown, but genetics…. In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks the membranes that line the joints throughout your body. Learn if your genetics put you at risk for…. Rheumatoid arthritis progresses for different people in different ways. Learn more about the stages of rheumatoid arthritis, along with treatment…. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that affects the joints, and other parts of the body.

There are ways to live well with RA. One of the goals of rheumatoid arthritis is remission, or freedom from disease activity.

Steroids can be very effective in the early days after diagnosis, or when the disease flares, to get things under control quickly. Your rheumatologist will gradually reduce the dose of steroids as he or she finds the best combination of drugs for you. Pain killers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also be used to help control symptoms, alone or in combination. It can be daunting to think of taking medication your whole life.

But if you decide not to, the damage to your joints is likely to be a lot worse than any side effects from the medication itself. Once joints are damaged, this cannot be reversed with medication, so the aim is to prevent damage before it occurs. The only way to suppress the inflammation and control the disease is to take the disease-modifying medication that your rheumatology team can prescribe. There is lots of good evidence for this. Some can react with your prescribed medicines and cause problems.

With the blood tests, your GP can:. This combination of professionals is the key to effective treatment. The exact team will vary, depending on where you live and your needs, but you should expect to see some of the following people as part of your rheumatology care:.

The nurse will be your first point of contact at the hospital. He or she may advise splints for severely affected joints. Evidence shows that staying active and exercising regularly is beneficial. He or she can advise you about looking after your feet and footwear and provide appropriate insoles for your shoes.

The person with RA. Research shows that when people learn about managing their disease and take on this responsibility as part of the team, they do much better in the long term. The importance of self management cannot be underestimated. NRAS can help. The biologic drugs also work better in people who are not overweight. People with RA can have an increased risk of heart disease and strokes in later life.

Evidence strongly suggests that smoking may increase the risk of developing RA. Give it a short period of rest, but once the swelling begins to settle, physical activity is essential to keep the joint moving. A physiotherapist will be able to advise you about the best exercises for you. Overdoing things can be like taking two steps forward and three steps back.

There are also numerous surgical and medical solutions on the horizon. There are new joint replacement surgeries that have proven to be very effective with high success rates and good durability. One study indicates that the United States has the highest prevalence of arthritis, especially osteoarthritis. Twenty-three percent of U. The average age of getting arthritis varies depending on the type of arthritis, but most people develop the condition between the ages of 30 and Once women reach menopause, their estrogen levels drop and estrogen helps fight cartilage and joint inflammation.

Women also have more flexible joints than men, which increases their risk of getting arthritis. Skip to main content Search for a topic or drug.

Arthritis statistics Nearly a quarter of American adults have arthritis. See arthritis stats by age, sex, and race to find out if you're at risk.