Help millions of people live with less pain and fund groundbreaking research to discover a cure for this devasting disease.
5 Food Myths Debunked
Healthy nutrition is essential for people with arthritis. But even if you’re a smart eater, misleading or dated headlines might lead you to buy into nutrition misinformation. To help separate fact from fiction, experts share the truth behind some common healthy-eating myths. You should eat “superfoods.” THE FACTS: The buzz is mostly marketing. Pomegranates and goji berries might have different nutrients than their average-joe counterparts, like apples, but they’re no more nutritious. “The key to getting the most nutrients is eating a variety of fruits and vegetables,” says registered dietitian Kristin Kirkpatrick, nutrition lead at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute and author ...more
Avoid Medical Bill Surprises for Arthritis Care
Managing your arthritis already takes a toll on your wallet. But a hospital stay or trip to the ER can have harmful financial consequences if you’re not vigilant. Nearly one in three Americans say they’ve been hit with unexpected medical charges in the past two years, according to Consumer Reports National Research Center. Here are some tips to help you ensure you’re not paying more than you should. Stick with in-network facilities. Make sure you go to a medical facility that’s covered by your insurance. During an emergency, you won’t want to call to find out which ones are in network, ...more
Are Collagen Supplements Helpful for Arthritis?
You’ve read the hype -- gelatin, collagen supplements, even bone broth will ease your arthritis. But can collagen supplements or bone broth really help your arthritis? What is Collagen? Collagen is the most abundant protein in the animal kingdom. There are 16 types of collagen, but nearly all the collagen in your body is type I, II or III. Types I and III are found in your skin, tendons, organs and bone. Type II collagen is found in your cartilage – and hence, its link to arthritis. Collagen is made of amino acids (the building blocks of protein). The idea behind taking these ...more
A New Way to Compare How Different Treatments Work for Patients with Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases
Every family whose child receives a diagnosis of a rheumatic disease (such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), lupus, dermatomyositis and scleroderma) wants the best treatment and care. The doctors who treat your child also want to provide the best treatment and care for their patients. Over the past 20 years, new discoveries and medicines have greatly improved the lives of children with rheumatic diseases. Many new treatment choices are good, but how can we know which medication will work the best for each child? What if we can learn the answer to this question by simply collecting information on how ...more
5 Reasons Smoking Makes Arthritis Worse
If the risks of lung disease, heart disease, cancer and bad breath weren’t good enough reasons for you to give up smoking, here’s something else you should know: Research shows that smoking is harmful to your bones, joints and connective tissue as well. No matter what form of arthritis you have, you’ll be doing your joints and yourself a favor by quitting. Here are five more reasons for people with arthritis to snuff the habit. Higher death risk. A 2016 study published in Arthritis Care & Research analyzed data from 5,677 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and found that, over an ...more
Happy National Doctor's Day!
Thank your doctor today – it’s National Doctor’s Day! The first Doctors’ Day observance occurred in 1933 in Winder, Georgia, where Eudora Brown Almond, the wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond proposed setting aside a day for mailing greeting cards and placing flowers on the graves of deceased doctors. In 1958, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a resolution commemorating Doctors’ Day. And in 1990, following overwhelming approval by Congress, President George H.W. Bush turned the commemoration into a national holiday. National Doctor’s Day is a day we celebrate “the contribution of physicians who serve our country by caring for its citizens.” The ...more
Arthritis Workout Moves On-the-Go
Whether by plane, train or car, travel can be a pain – literally. Especially if you have inflammatory arthritis or osteoarthritis. Less oxygen and nutrients reach your joints, which contributes to pain and stiffness. “Sitting for long stretches slows your circulation,” says Lisa M. Higginbotham, an occupational therapist and clinical rehab manager at a Cleveland Clinic hospital in Ohio. Sluggish circulation also raises the risk for swelling and potentially dangerous blood clots, she adds. Moving at least every hour keeps joints mobile. Plus, “contracting your muscles pumps blood back to the heart,” says Eric Robertson, PT, director of Kaiser Permanente Northern ...more
2018 Arthritis Platinum Ambassador Assembly Makes a Big Impact
Scores of the most passionate and vocal champions of the arthritis community recently descended on the nation’s capital to hone their advocacy skills and share their personal stories with each other and with their members of Congress. Attended by nearly 130 participants from 32 states, the Arthritis Foundation’s new Platinum Ambassadors Assembly was held March 12-13. Platinum Ambassadors are top grassroots volunteers who complete six annual advocacy assignments and raise at least $1,000 to support the Foundation’s mission to conquer and cure arthritis. Forty-eight of our fifty-one Platinum Ambassadors participated in the first-of-its-kind event, along with 25 Junior Ambassadors, young people ...more