Are You at Risk for Arthritis?

Mega Doctor News

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Who’s at risk

Anyone can get arthritis. But certain groups of people may be more likely to develop arthritis.

Men and women

Some types of arthritis may be more likely to affect men, while other types may be more likely to affect women. 

• Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia than men.
• Men are more likely to develop gout than women.
• The reasons for these sex differences are not well understood.

Older adults

Arthritis can happen at any age, but your risk of getting arthritis increases as you get older. This is because as you get older:

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• Swelling (inflammation) may affect your body and joints.
• You may lose muscle, which is needed for stable joints.
  • Having low muscle mass can increase your risk of falls and joint injuries.
    

People with a family history of arthritis

You may be more likely to develop certain types of arthritis if you have a family history or family member with arthritis. The types of arthritis that can be passed on through family include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Lupus.
• A type of arthritis in the spine called ankylosing spondylitis.

People with overweight or obesity

People who have overweight or obesity are more likely to get knee osteoarthritis. 

• Extra weight puts more stress on your joints.
• This can also make knee or hip osteoarthritis pain worse.

Other risk factors

Smoking

Smoking can increase your risk of getting rheumatoid arthritis and can make arthritis worse. 

Smoking can also make it harder to be physically active, which is important for managing arthritis symptoms.

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Infections

Some infections cause joints to swell, become red, or feel warm—all of which can increase the risk of arthritis. 

Examples of these infections include:

• Lyme disease.
• Staphylococcus infection.
• Gonorrhea.

Joint injury

• Some joint injuries can increase risk of osteoarthritis later in life in the same joint.
• For example, people who have injured their ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) of the knee are more likely to get osteoarthritis in that knee later in life.
• Joint injuries can happen when playing sports, from falls and accidents, or from work-related activities.
• Osteoarthritis is more common among adults with jobs that require a lot of:
  • Bending.
  • Squatting.
  • Other repetitive motions.

Military service

People who served in the military, or veterans, are more likely to have arthritis. This may be from injuries sustained during military service.1

Arthritis Among Veterans‎

1 in 3 veterans have arthritis compared with 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. overall.1

Information Source: CDC

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