Daily HealthBeat Tip - July 12, 2007

Women and arthritis

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Women are more likely than men to have arthritis. And arthritis seems to make women’s lives worse than men’s. A researcher at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in survey data.  Kristina Theis reported her findings in the Journal of Women’s Health.

The study found women had 60 percent of the approximately 1 million hospitalizations for arthritis in 2003. And 39 percent of women with arthritis say their condition limits their activity -- slightly more than for men.

Arthritis can require medical care. But Theis says people also can help themselves by such things as staying active.

``Oftentimes, people will start exercising, have pain and stop without realizing that, if they can get through the first couple weeks, they’re actually going to be decreasing their pain overall.’’  (11 seconds)

Learn more at hhs.gov.

Last revised: July, 12 2007