Arthritis - Women in New Mexico

New Mexico

Arthritis is a general term that describes over 100 conditions that cause inflammation or swelling of the joints. Many adults with arthritis also experience limitations in daily activities such as walking, standing, sitting, bending, kneeling, reaching and gripping, making arthritis a leading cause of workplace disability. Common symptoms of arthritis include pain, redness, heat or swelling of the joints. More than 30% of adults with diagnosed arthritis experience severe joint pain.

Some types of arthritis, like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, are more prevalent among women than men. By 2040, projections estimate that 78.4 million adults in the United States will be living with arthritis, two-thirds of whom will be women.

The total medical costs associated with osteoarthritis, the most prevalent form of arthritis in the U.S., are $460 billion a year.

Risk factors for arthritis include performing a job that requires a lot of repetitive bending or squatting, having a history of smoking, obesity or excess weight and having a history of joint injury or infection.

According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of arthritis is higher among: 

• Women ages 35-44 compared with younger women. Women ages 35-44 have a prevalence almost four times that of women ages 18-24.
• American Indian/Alaska Native, multiracial and white women compared with Asian, Hispanic and Black women.
• Women who did not graduate from college compared with college graduates.
• Women with annual household incomes less than $25,000 compared with those who have incomes of $50,000 or more.
• Women living in nonmetropolitan areas compared with those in metropolitan areas.
• Women who have difficulty with mobility or difficulty with self-care compared with women without a disability.
• LGBQ+ women compared with straight women.
• Women who have served in the U.S. armed forces compared with those who have not served.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women who have never given birth may be at increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis, while women who breastfeed their infants appear to have decreased risk.

Strategies to reduce arthritis risk include maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and protecting yourself from joint injuries. For those with arthritis, staying physically active can alleviate joint pain and improve quality of life. Low-impact exercises that are easy on the joints include walking, biking and swimming. 

Although there is no cure for arthritis, common treatments include medications that can slow its progression and relieve pain. Nonmedication pain management tools and strategies include massage, acupuncture and chiropractic care, among others. Joint replacement surgery is also an option for some when other treatments have been unsuccessful.

Healthy People 2030 has several objectives related to arthritis, including:

• Reducing the proportion of adults with arthritis who have moderate or severe joint pain.
• Reducing the proportion of adults with arthritis whose arthritis limits their work.
• Reducing the proportion of adults whose arthritis limits their activities.
• Increasing the proportion of adults with arthritis who receive counseling for physical activity.

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