Who is most affected by arthritis

The disease process can eventually destroy cartilage and bone within the joint. Severe arthritis, particularly if it affects your hands or arms, can make it difficult for you to do daily tasks. Arthritis of weight-bearing joints can keep you from walking comfortably or sitting up straight. In some cases, joints may gradually lose their alignment and shape. Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced.

See the stories of satisfied Mayo Clinic patients. After hip replacement surgeries, Mara Olson feels no pain and is back to the activities she enjoys. That's just the result her surgeon and her two dogs wanted for her. Mara Olson and her dogs, Ellie and Tea, had a good thing going.

Every day, they'd walk in the fields behind her home. Then one [ Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Osteoarthritis vs. Osteoarthritis vs. Ankylosing spondylitis Gout Juvenile idiopathic arthritis Osteoarthritis Psoriatic arthritis Reactive arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis Septic arthritis Thumb arthritis.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Peterson LS. Osteoarthritis OA commonly develops after the age 50 or 60 years, but there are studies that reveal radiographic evidence of OA occurring in women in their 40s.

It also tends to be more prevalent in individuals who are overweight. Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling are the most common symptoms of arthritis. Other symptoms of osteoarthritis include :. Other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include :. Arthritis may be caused by :. Normal wear and tear causes OA , one of the most common forms of arthritis. An infection or injury to the joints can exacerbate this natural breakdown of cartilage tissue. Cartilage is a firm but flexible connective tissue in your joints.

It protects the joints by absorbing the pressure and shock created when you move and put stress on them. A reduction in the normal amount of this cartilage tissue causes some forms of arthritis. Your risk of developing OA may also be higher if you have a family history of the disease. Another common form of arthritis, RA , is an autoimmune disorder. In the joints, this inflammatory response affects the synovium, a soft tissue in your joints that produces a fluid that nourishes the cartilage and lubricates the joints, eventually destroying both bone and cartilage inside the joint.

But scientists have discovered genetic markers that increase your risk of developing RA fivefold. They will perform a physical exam to check for fluid around the joints, warm or red joints, and document the range of motion in the joints. Your doctor can refer you to a specialist if needed. This may lead to a faster diagnosis and treatment.

Documenting inflammation levels in your blood and aspirating and analyzing joint fluids, if present, can help your doctor determine what kind of arthritis you have. Blood tests that check for specific types of antibodies like anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide CCP , rheumatoid factor RF and antinuclear antibody ANA are also common diagnostic tests.

Doctors commonly use imaging scans such as X-ray , MRI , and CT scans to produce an image of your bones and cartilage. This helps them rule out other causes of your symptoms, such as bone spurs.

In general, treatment for arthritis involves a combination of:. Improving your joint function is also important. Your doctor may prescribe a combination of treatment methods to achieve the best results. A number of different types of medication treat arthritis:. If you have RA, your doctor may recommend corticosteroids or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs DMARDs , which suppress your immune system.

Methotrexate is now a first-line drug for treatment. There are also many medications to treat OA available over the counter or by prescription. While clinical evidence and safety data are lacking for many herbs and supplements marketed for arthritis, there are a few supplements that may be beneficial.

Fish oil and turmeric supplements may help reduce inflammation in RA. Gout, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis are other common rheumatic conditions.

Learn more about specific types of arthritis. Learn more about future arthritis burden. Text description is available. Work directly with the data to create your own filtered datasets, customize visualizations, download data, and more. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate.

Arthritis Related Statistics. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. Prevalence of Arthritis in the United States. National Prevalence From —, an estimated Prevalence by State The percentage of adults with arthritis varies by state, ranging from Learn more about state-level arthritis statistics. To view arthritis prevalence estimates by state, go to the interactive map on the Chronic Disease Indicators database and select a state on the map. Learn more about county-level arthritis statistics.