Today is World Arthritis Day and did you know over 120 million people in the world suffer from some kind of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.
In association with the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society and Silver Surfers, there has been a Seconds Matter campaign launched.
Seconds Matter is a simple concept but one which resonates with everyone and it is not just old people that arthritis affects, did you know that 33% of people are aged just 45 or over? I have just turned 42 this year and have been experiencing some pain in my knees which I am not sure is down to needing to lose weight or something that might have longer term effects, like the onset of arthritis. Hearing these results have certainly made me book an appointment to get checked out.
What does a second mean to you? Does it mean missing the last post or running late and not getting the last train home? For someone with arthritis those seconds are regularly missed and they can turn from minutes to hours in the struggle to get through the day.
More than 400,000 people in the UK have rheumatoid arthritis which is an inflammation of the joints which can flair up causing pain, inflammation and stiffness. There are many factors that increase the risk of arthritis, including excess weight bearing down on joints over time. The one you hear about a lot is from an injury or genetics so well worth checking your family history! Regions affected often include hips, hand and wrists, knees, and feet and ankles. Women are more likely to develop arthritic conditions than men.
Exercise and weight loss can help manage the symptoms so we should all take precautions which could delay or prevent having to deal with the affects of arthritis later in life.
Know the symptoms: Head Torso Legs
The eyes can be affected in people with rheumatoid arthritis. When the eyes are affected, symptoms can include red, painful eyes or possibly dry eyes. As well as the eyes, it is common for jaw pains to occur as the arthritis tends to spread to other joints in the body.
Head over to the Premier Bathrooms blog page to find out more on how you can spot early signs of arthritis, things you can do to help those who suffer and simple exercises etc you can carry out.
XOXO
Debbie
