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Scientists estimate that about 2.1 million
people, or 1 percent of the U.S. adult population, have rheumatoid
arthritis. Interestingly, some recent studies have suggested
that the overall number of new cases of rheumatoid arthritis
may actually be going down. Scientists are now investigating
why this may be happening.
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs in all races and ethnic
groups. Although the disease often begins in middle age and
occurs with increased frequency in older people, children
and young adults also develop it. Like some other forms of
arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis occurs much more frequently
in women than in men. About two to three times as many women
as men have the disease.
By all measures, the financial and social impact
of all types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis,
is substantial, both for the Nation and for individuals. From
an economic standpoint, the medical and surgical treatment
for rheumatoid arthritis and the wages lost because of disability
caused by the disease add up to millions of dollars. Daily
joint pain is an inevitable consequence of the disease, and
most patients also experience some degree of depression, anxiety,
and feelings of helplessness. In some cases, rheumatoid arthritis
can interfere with a person's ability to carry out normal
daily activities, limit job opportunities, or disrupt the
joys and responsibilities of family life. However, there are
arthritis self-management programs that help people cope with
the pain and other effects of the disease and help them lead
independent and productive lives. These programs are described
later in the section Diagnosing and Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Searching
for the Cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Be sure to visit the Glucosamine Product Guide for a review of commercially available glucosamine products broken down by 9 different categories such as price per month, quality and type. Learn what the best products out there are and what criteria was used to ranked each. |
