The Facts
Arthritis is a chronic disorder that affects 1 in 5 Americans, and 50% of those over 65 years of age. It is one of the major reasons people see their physicians.
The word arthritis is derived from the Greek words arthron for "joint" and itis for "inflammation." Today, the term is used for hundreds of different varieties of joint problems that have specific symptoms, such as pain, swelling, and stiffness. Arthritis means a change inside a joint. (Bursitis and tendonitis by themselves are not arthritis, because they affect tissues around the joints.)
Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are the two most common types of arthritis conditions. Other types of arthritis include gout, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE or lupus), and psoriatic arthritis.
The effects of arthritis are often mild, but in some cases they can be crippling. RA affects 1 to 2 out of every 100 people, with more women than men being affected. Joints and other organs may be affected by this form of arthritis.
The Arthritis Foundation estimates that almost every person over the age of 60 years probably has OA to some degree, but fewer than half have it severe enough to notice any symptoms. OA occurs equally in both sexes, but in people under 45 years of age it is more common in men. It is also much more common in overweight people.