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About Arthritis

Common Arthritis Diseases

Arthritis includes more than 100 rheumatic diseases and conditions that affect joints, the tissue that surrounds joints and other connective tissue. Common forms include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus, fibromyalgia and gout.

Arthritis symptoms typically include pain and stiffness in and around one or more joints. Certain rheumatic conditions can also involve the immune system and the body's various internal organs. Although arthritis is more commonly seen in older adults, children also are affected.

For more information about the common types of arthritis, click here.

For information about Physical Activity and Self-Management Programs, click here.

Arthritis and Comorbidity

People with arthritis do not experience their condition in isolation. The self-management practices recommended for people with arthritis can also help them to manage heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and obesity, and their risk factors.

To see a table showing the percentage of New Mexico adults with chronic diseases and risk factors by arthritis status, click here.

Risk Factors

Risk factors are things that increase your chance of getting arthritis. You can do nothing about some risk factors, like age and gender. But there are some things you can do to improve your overall health and reduce your risk of arthritis and other chronic conditions.

For more information about the types of risk factors, click here.

What Can I Do to Reduce My Risk for Arthritis?

• Be Active—Make sure you get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity 5 days a week. You can get activity in 10-minute intervals.
• Watch Your Weight— Research suggests that maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of developing arthritis and may decrease disease progression.
• Protect Your Joints—Avoid joint injury to reduce your risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Data Source: "Arthritis: Meeting the Challenge, At a Glance 2009." Fact Sheet CS120927. Department of Health and Human Services —" Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009.