Lately, it seems like almost everyone has or at least knows someone who has arthritis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we may not be far off base – nearly 19% of Americans older than 18 suffer from some form of arthritis. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2024 that 58.5 million Americans have arthritis, making it one of the leading causes of disability in the country.

What exactly is arthritis?

Arthritis is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and it is important to distinguish between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis as it makes a big difference in treatment and prognosis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of this condition - a term that describes the same process as degenerative arthritis.

An increasingly common condition

Some physicians point to the impact America's obesity epidemic has had on osteoarthrosis numbers.

It helps to think of the aging process as akin to car maintenance—proper care and treatment of your body are crucial.

If you are 65, it’s like having 65,000 miles on your tires. Osteoarthritis typically occurs in the weight-bearing joints, such as the lower back, hips and knees, and hands.

Common symptoms include pain after engaging in moderate physical activity and crepitus, a creaking in the joints caused by cartilage irregularity. An accurate diagnosis to exclude other forms of arthritis is the first step to treating osteoarthritis without surgery.  

Anti-inflammatory medication helps people with their comfort level, pain and functionality. Lifestyle changes, such as weight loss and exercise—even though it sounds counterintuitive—can also improve arthritis symptoms. Regular exercise, barring high-impact exercises, helps maintain the range of motion in the affected joints.

If you are concerned about arthritis, talk with your primary care physician first to determine if you suffer from a form of arthritis. To prevent joint damage in the first place, maintain a healthy weight and stay active to maintain the range of motion in your joints.

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