FYI:
Did you know…..?
- T-Rex meets R-A? –> It has been proven that dinosaurs were susceptible to joint, muscle, and bone diseases. Some researchers say that the first evidence of arthritis was primary ankle osteoarthritis in dinosaurs.
- Arthritis is one of the oldest diseases known to mankind and has been discovered in the remains of people who lived over 500,000 years ago. The first known cases of arthritis in humans historically date back to 4500 B.C. Some reports and historic documents qualify arthritis as the number one most common ailment in prehistoric people. Wonder what they did to manage the disease?
- A vocabulary lesson: the prefix “arth” means joints. The suffix “itis” means inflammation. Hence, the name, arthritis.
- Indirect and direct costs of arthritis combined costs the United States government at least $124 billion dollars a year. Yes, you read that correctly! This is why prevention and early diagnosis are so important.
- Arthritis is the #1 leading cause for disability in United States citizens over the age of 15 years old.
- Arthritis used to be treated by using GOLD. In some extreme and rare cases, gold compound injections can still be used to treat some forms of arthritis!
- The most prevalent demographic group affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis is women in their 40’s. That being said, ANYONE of ANY age, gender, descent, etc. can be affected by this condition, which is autoimmune in nature.
- There is no evidence either way for claims that climate alone can either cure, cause, or treat arthritis. However, the majority of arthritis patients do say that weather does, in fact, affect how they feel.
- Our furry friends can get arthritis, too! Approximately, 1-in-4 adult dogs will develop arthritis. It is usually treated by medications and often affects larger breeds.
- There is not scientific proof that foods can help or hurt arthritis. However, most studies show that a healthy diet does help in arthritis treatment. Some naturopathic doctors claim that gluten, dairy, and/or nightshade vegetables can be detrimental to anyone with an inflammatory condition. There is proof that herbs such as ginger and turmeric help fight inflammation.
- Arthritis and joint pain are sometimes a comorbidity with or symptom of other autoimmune diseases such as Celiac Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Joint pain and/or arthritis can also occur in patients with Lyme Disease and thyroid problems.
- Famous people get it too! Famed actress Lucille Ball, singer/choreographer Paula Abdul, NBA player Allan Iverson, the late pop megastar Michael Jackson, actress Kathleen Turner, French painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and American entertainer Jack Benny, all have/had one of the 117+ forms of arthritis or related disease. It has been reported that pop star Britney Spears has arthritis in one of her knees, and many famous people have been suspected of having fibromyalgia including: Charles Darwin, Florence Nightengale, and Frida Kahlo. Actresses AJ Langer and Susan Flannery also have fibro. The daughter of actress Jennie Garth and actor Peter Facinelli suffers from Still’s Disease – a rare form of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.
- You absolutely cannot get arthritis from cracking your knuckles or other joints. It is an “Old Wives’ Tale!”
- In the 2006 “Rocky Balboa” movie, Duke mentions that Rocky has arthritis in his neck, a bad knee, and calcium deposits on most of his joints. Even legends can get osteoarthritis — the type that comes with age, and wear & tear on the joints! It does commonly affect athletes.
- Arthritis patients who are underweight are more prone to complications from cardiovascular disease.
- Sunlight is a great source of Vitamin D which is essential for building healthy bones. In Ancient Rome, gladiators would bask in the sun to “heal” their aching bones and joints.
- Some people believe that the Holy Bible hints at certain herbs that can be used in healing ailments such as arthritis. One of the ones most commonly referred to is Aloe.
- About 300,000 United States children and teens under the age of 18 have arthritis.
- Ergonomic, lightweight cooking tools with easy grips & non-slip handles are very helpful to people who have arthritis. Great for in the kitchen!
- Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferers usually need about 10 hours of sleep and a 1-or-2-hour nap during the day. Doctors advise RA patients to sleep until they feel rested. Unfortunately, this often is not realistic for many people with RA.
- When you “crack” or “pop” your joints, the sound you hear is usually gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide “escaping”. These gases are found in the synovial fluid. Sometimes, the noise is from ligaments and tendons shifting, or simply from the roughness of the joint surface.
- Different forms of yoga can be beneficial for arthritis! Some of the more “unique” examples are “laughter yoga” and “chair yoga!”
- More than 200 years ago, a gout attack kept the English statesman William Pitt from stopping the passage of a tax on tea by Parliament. The tax led to the Boston Tea Party and the independence of the American colonies.
- Roman Emperor Diocletian exempted citizens with severe arthritis from paying taxes, realizing that the disease itself can be taxing enough. (Maybe this should be reinstated?)
- Arthritis accounts for 427 million days of restricted activities, 156 million days in bed and 45 million days lost in work annually in this country.
- The word “Lupus” is Latin for “wolf.” The disease Lupus was named 130 years ago by a French doctor who thought the signature rash on the face of lupus patients resembled the bites of a wolf.
- Some people with Rheumatoid Arthritis are wheelchair-bound, others can run a marathon. Some have serious complications, others do not. The symptomology of this condition are vast and varied, affecting each patient differently and on different levels.
- You have a one in five chance of experiencing some form of rheumatic disease, such as arthritis, during your lifetime. (Yes, You!)
- Three times as many women as men are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. 90% of all lupus patients are women.
- In China, traditional treatments including herbal remedies, acupuncture, acupressure and massage, and moxibustion (the burning of substances on the skin to remedy illness) account for around 40% of ALL health care.
- There is currently a “FibroDuck” movement to spread awareness of fibromyalgia. One million rubber duckies are being sent out. The hopes are that people will purchase a duck, and take photos and YouTube videos of the duckies with them on their travels. As they upload pictures and video to the site, money will be donated to the cause of fibromyalgia.
- The TV show “House” has shown cases of Sjogren’s Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Celiac Disease, and other autoimmune conditions….these are often very hard to diagnose, thus providing a nice storyline for each episode as they try to solve these medical mysteries!
- Sjögren’s syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease in which a person’s white blood cells attack their moisture-producing glands. Today, as many as 4 million Americans are living with this disease. Sjögren’s syndrome reminds you to stay positive, right in the name, as it is pronounced, “Show-Grins!”
That’s all for today! We’d love to hear any of your interesting or fun trivia facts related to one of the types of arthritis and related disease – so please do leave your thoughts and comments!
Stay well, and thanks for reading!
Community Development Director
Arthritis Foundation, Western PA Chapter
“Voted Best Blogger in Pittsburgh!”
**Disclaimer: The facts mentioned in this blog are for education and entertainment, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Arthritis Foundation, Western Pennsylvania Chapter. Always consult your doctor for medical advice!
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