 Seventy percent of Hoosiers with arthritis are of working age. |
More than a third of Indiana’s population has arthritis, the inflammation of joints. It’s estimated that 1.7 million Hoosiers get that jolting reminder when they roll out of bed, climb stairs, write a letter or get out of a chair. Arthritis is not a single disease. It is a term for more than 100 conditions that involve the joints and surrounding tissues. Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability among Americans, and a Hoosier state initiative is addressing the problem. Though the common image of someone with arthritis is an elderly person, 70 percent of state residents with arthritis are working age (18 to 64 years).
The Indiana Arthritis Initiative (IAI), launched by the Indiana State Department of Health and coordinated through its Chronic Disease Division, seeks to boost awareness and education among people with arthritis and groups at high risk of developing it, including medically underserved populations. The message is that people can take action to reduce arthritis-related pain and loss of function. Another goal is to strengthen and support clinical practices of health-care providers serving patients with arthritis.
“There are ways to combat arthritis and reduce its debilitating effects,” said Dr. Greg Wilson, state health commissioner. “Low-impact physical activity like walking or swimming can improve mobility and reduce pain for people with arthritis. Maintaining an ideal body weight can also reduce the risk of developing certain forms of arthritis.”
The Indiana Arthritis Strategic Action Plan and the report, Arthritis and Indiana: Our State’s Burden, detailing demographics of who has arthritis, the many ways arthritis affects quality of life for individuals and families, and the economic problems associated with the disease, are online. Click on the link under “Data and Statistics” at this site:
http://www.in.gov/isdh
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