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Arthritis Blog

By Carol & Richard Eustice, About.com Guides to Arthritis since 1997

May Is National Arthritis Month

Wednesday May 7, 2008
May Is National Arthritis Month - a month devoted to promoting awareness about arthritis. Over 1 in 5 Americans report doctor-diagnosed arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly a million Americans will be diagnosed with arthritis this year alone. Over the next two decades as the population ages, the number of people with arthritis will continue to skyrocket.

Arthritis is often misunderstood, largely due to misconceptions, misinformation, and old wives tales which persist. Unless the difficulties and limitations imposed by arthritis affect you or a family member directly, your exposure to the disease may be minimal.

Arthritis is not a single disease. Arthritis comprises over 100 different diseases and conditions. The CDC reports, the most common forms are osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia. Arthritis is not just an older person’s disease. Nearly two-thirds of people with arthritis are younger than age 65.

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