Wednesday November 25, 2009
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 46.4 million adults in the United States have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. That's a large number -- and it's growing as the population ages. What causes so many people to develop arthritis? Is arthritis contagious? Is arthritis a disease that can be transmitted from person to person?
The short answer is no -- it's not contagious. You will do better learning about risk factors for arthritis when considering why so many people develop the condition. Learn more in Is Arthritis Contagious?
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Sunday November 22, 2009
Researchers from South Carolina have studied the effect of systemic lupus erythematosus on employment. According to the November 2009 issue of the Journal of Rheumatology, 51 patients and 26 controls who were working the year before diagnosis were no longer working at followup (a median of 4 years after diagnosis). Ninety-two percent of patients compared with 40% of controls who were no longer working indicated that they had stopped working because of their health.
College graduates were less likely to quit their jobs due to health compared to patients who did not graduate from college. Lupus patients with arthritis were 3 times more likely to have quit their jobs due to health reasons compared to those who didn't have arthritis.
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Saturday November 21, 2009
People cherish holiday traditions. From Grandma's favorite cookie recipe to preparing a feast. From giving gifts to attending church services. The holiday season is packed with daily activities that include family and friends.
Maintaining holiday traditions can be hectic and stressful -- even for healthy people. For people with arthritis and physical limitations, the holidays hold an extra element of stress. How do you cope with the holidays? How do you get through the holiday season and enjoy it? Offer some specific tips to your arthritis counterparts. Share Your Survival Secrets.
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Wednesday November 18, 2009
In the late 1990s, the first of several biologics went on the market to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The first was Enbrel (etanercept) -- but it did not take long for other biologics to be developed and marketed. Biologics target molecules on cells of the immune system, joint, and the products that are secreted in the joint, all of which can cause inflammation and joint destruction.
Who should use biologics? Perhaps even more importantly, who should not use biologics? If you decide biologics are for you, what helps you decide which biologic to try? Learn more in What Arthritis Patients Should Know About Biologics?
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