Introduction
Humans are susceptible to various ailments as they age, including cancer, heart failure, Alzheimer’s, and arthritis. All of these diseases have been detrimental to people’s life. In the United States, arthritis is the second most prevalent chronic illness (Roy et al., 2018). It develops when the body mistakenly views its tissue as alien and begins to fight it. Over eighty autoimmune diseases are included in the category of arthritis. As a result of this illness’ impact on connective tissues and joints, the joints become stiff and painful, inflamed, and swollen. While some forms of arthritis can result in disabling, they are rarely fatal.
Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are the two most prevalent kinds of arthritis. Cartilage, the tough, slick membrane that cushions the endings of bones as they come together to create a joint, deteriorates due to osteoarthritis. The immune system targets the joints in rheumatoid arthritis, starting with the covering of the joints. According to Roy et al. (2018), up to 40% of arthritis can be inherited from family members making it one of the risk factors for the disease. While gout prevalence in men is 6% and in women 2.3%, osteoarthritis is relatively widespread in women (Roy et al., 2018). Being overweight places stress on joints,therefore, obese people are more likely to develop arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent type of arthritis in Florida and the United States. According to Roy et al. (2018), 23% of non-Hispanic Whites with arthritis experience less extreme joint discomfort and work constraints than African Americans, Hispanics, and multiracial populations. Their ability to work may be restricted by arthritis, or they may be unable to work at all. The prevalence of arthritis in Florida is at 22% with women taking two-thirds of the percentage (Hootman et al., 2018). Even though arthritis is not lethal in and of itself, the consequences that can develop in relatively severe cases can cause a reduction in a lifetime.
Review of Descriptive Epidemiology of Arthritis
In several societies, the occurrence of arthritis is mainly stable. Individuals with average health are most likely to have arthritis than adults in perfect health, and its prevalence rises with age from 23.6% in adults aged 40 to 48% in those above 60 (Roy et al., 2018). In addition, compared to adults who satisfy physical activity guidelines, individuals having no leisure-time physical exercise are likely to develop arthritis. In the upcoming decades, an upsurge in the rate of arthritis with a medical diagnosis is anticipated. It is predicted that 78 million adults aged 18 and over will have the disease by 2040 (Hootman et al., 2018). Moreover, females are projected to make up two-thirds of the population with arthritis.
People are more prone to later suffer arthritis in a joint that has been injured, possibly while participating in sports. Compared to people with a lesser body mass index, about 8% of persons 18 years of age and over who are obese more frequently report having arthritis by a doctor (Roy et al., 2018). Women are susceptible to developing arthritis for a variety of reasons. Weight gain is common among menopausal women, and this added strain on the joints account for 12% arthritis cases (Roy et al., 2018). The traits of the at-risk category include joint stiffness and discomfort, which often get worse as people age. Numerous risk factors, including genetics, weight, lifestyle choices like smoking, and past joint injuries, may influence the onset of different types of arthritis.
Overview of HP2020 for Arthritis
The Healthy People initiative lays forth 10-year national goals for promoting the wellness of all Americans. Healthy People has set benchmarks and tracked development to encourage collaborations between communities and sectors, gauge the effectiveness of prevention efforts, and enable people to make knowledgeable health decisions. By fostering more excellent public knowledge on the factors that influence health, as well as the prospects for advancement, HP2020 aims to identify national health enhancement priorities. Arthritis breaches HP2020 goals since it significantly impacts health and 40% of individual’s productivity (“Arthritis, osteoporosis, and chronic,” 2022). Therefore, the goal of the program is to prevent osteoporosis, persistent back disorders, arthritis, various rheumatic diseases.
Doctors examine patients’ joints physically to diagnose arthritis and look for swelling, redness, and warmth. Additionally, the doctor would want to assess the patient’s joint mobility. Various types of bodily secretions can be analyzed in lab testing to determine the type of arthritis. Blood, urine, and joint fluid are among the fluids that are frequently studied and it is applied to about 66% of obese females in their late 40s (“Arthritis, osteoporosis, and chronic,” 2022). Doctors also use low doses of radiation through x-rays which indicate bone degeneration and cartilage loss and are used to monitor the course of the disease, even though they may not detect early arthritic impairment.
Population Level Prevention and Health Promotion Review
Some factors, such as becoming older, being a woman, or having a history of arthritis in the family, are beyond an individual’s control. However, people can take precautions to lower their risk of developing arthritis or postpone it. In the U.S., the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledges several interventions for easing arthritic symptoms. In Florida, citizens are encouraged to get involved in a self-management training program like the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, which imparts knowledge and self-assurance necessary for daily living with arthritis (“Arthritis awareness month,” 2022). To lower their risk of developing knee osteoarthritis, the at-risk group can keep a healthy weight. Approximately 70% of guidelines from medical professionals inspire people to engage in physical activity (Roy et al, 2018). In addition, those who are diagnosed earlier, undergo treatment and learn ways to handle their situation have a higher quality of life.
Florida makes advantage of CDC money to broaden and track the audience for programs that promote information about arthritis self-management and keep them going over time. Additionally, states employ CDC funds to encourage walking, urge individuals with arthritis to be sent to successful intervention programs, and enhance health care professional counseling about the advantages of physical exercise for managing arthritis. CDC collaborates with federal agencies to increase and monitor the application of research-based therapies for arthritis in adults (“Arthritis awareness month,” 2022). Adults with arthritis and various chronic illnesses can live better lives by monitoring these tactics across numerous industries.
Conclusion
Only a few forms of arthritis can be healed, affecting millions of adults. Therefore, symptom management and decreasing the disease’s recurrence must be the main goals of arthritis treatment. The emergence of various kinds of arthritis may be influenced by risk factors such past joint injury and lifestyle decisions like smoking. Although arthritis’ mortality rate is low, the serious impact can be deadly. There are some interventions such as self-management training program that offer the at-risk population with information about arthritis. These interventions are tracked by the help of CDC funding to different states to make them effective. Home cures and lifestyle changes are other ways to manage the sickness. People who do this maintain joint functionality and lessen the impact of the illness.
References
Arthritis awareness month: Expanding interventions for arthritis. (2022). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web.
Arthritis, osteoporosis, and chronic back conditions. (2022). Healthy People. Web.
Hootman, J. M., Murphy, L. B., Omura, J. D., Brady, T. J., Boring, M., Barbour, K. E., & Helmick, C. G. (2018). Health care provider counseling for physical activity or exercise among adults with arthritis – United States, 2002 and 2014.Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 66(52), 1398-1401. Web.
Roy, N., Tanner, K. M., Merrill, R. M., Wright, C., Pierce, J. L., & Miller, K. L. (2018). Epidemiology of swallowing disorders in rheumatoid arthritis: Prevalence, risk factors, and quality of life burden.Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, 127(9), 577-587. Web.