Arthritis is such a commonly heard of ailment that its severity can be grossly underestimated. But let’s be clear – arthritis is a serious condition that ruins hundreds of thousands of people’s lives from all over the age spectrum.
Each year, it is estimated that 52.5 million Americans are informed that they have a form of arthritis, be it lupus, fibromyalgia, or rheumatoid. It is even estimated that as many as 300,000 children under the age of 18 also have some form of arthritic condition. That’s one in every 250 US children, which is pretty shocking.
According to statistics from the CDC, nearly 1 in 2 people will likely contract osteoarthritis by the age of 85. The stats also revealed that 2 in 3 people who are currently obese will probably develop osteoarthritis in their lower joints in their lifetime and 25% of all individuals will develop very painful osteoarthritis of the hip by the time they are 85.
It is a serious condition that can seriously impact your way of life and it can affect you at any age.
The Arthritis Foundation says that catching rheumatoid arthritis early is the key to beating it into remission. Usually, by the time your hands have started to stiffen and seize up painfully, it’s too late. So how do you spot the early warning signs of arthritis?
Tiredness
Long before you feel any pain, you’ll likely be feeling very tired. Undue tiredness or fatigue can herald the onset of other more painful symptoms within just a few months. If you feel under the weather, depressed, or just “foggy” for no good reason, it could be a sign of the onset of arthritis.
This is especially true if you don’t have a history of alzheimer’s or other similar illnesses in your family history, or if you don’t fit into the appropriate age bracket.
Morning Stiffness
If you’re finding that it takes you longer and longer to get up out of bed due to stiffness in your back or legs, you’re probably suffering from an early form of degenerative arthritis. This will also take the form of stiffness after prolonged sitting like driving or working in an office.
Numbness/Burning
When your joints and tendons begin to inflame initially, it can result in a burning sensation in your fingers and toes. This is because the swollen tendons and joints can impinge on your nerves and cause a variety of symptoms like numbness, jumpiness, and burning.
Joint Pain
That feeling of painful tightness and tension in your wrists and fingers isn’t just carpal tunnel syndrome, it can be the very first sign that your arthritis is exiting the subtle stage of symptoms and entering a more serious phase.
It’s easy to write off a few aches and pains here and there as just that, aches and pains – but if you are in the groups mentioned, especially those over 50 and/or obese, it could be a sign that you need to go to your family doctor as soon as possible.
Catch It Early
Catching these warning signs early is the key to preventing arthritis from setting in and making your life miserable. Regular consultations with your doctor are essential for maintaining your health and this is just as true when it comes to watching out for/treating arthritis.
As we’ve mentioned, just because it’s a common ailment doesn’t mean that it should be taken lightly or brushed off as something ‘everyone’ gets. With proper intervention, arthritis can be treated extremely effectively via a number of different techniques and medications. And remember; vigilance and thorough care for your health is the key. It’s crucial if you have any of these early warning signs to get a simple blood test to find out if you have arthritis. Get yours here.
