Arthritis affects more than 50 million adults in the U.S. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability and one of the most common health conditions among adults.
According to a newly released Centers for Disease Control study, more than 3.1 million Hispanic adults in the U.S. have arthritis. Also, more than 1.4 million Hispanics have limitations on activities because of arthritis. Among Hispanics, arthritis was most common among women, obese people and people older than 65. Here is a representation of arthritis among Hispanic sub-groups:
• Puerto Ricans – 22 percent
• Other or Multiple Hispanics – 19 percent
• Mexican Americans – 18 percent
• Dominican – 16 percent
• Mexican – 14 percent
• Central/South American – 13 percent
• Cuban/Cuban-Americans - 12 percent
"Hispanics will account for nearly a third of our population by 2050. That is why it's important to understand how arthritis--the most common cause of disability--affects their lives and their work," said Dr. Wayne H. Giles, director of the Division of Adult and Community Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC study was based on data from the National Health Interview Survey. The survey was designed to be representative of the U.S. population. Other results of the study include:
• One in five Hispanics with arthritis experienced adverse effects with arthritis
• Mexicans report the highest work limitations
• Puerto Ricans report the most joint pain and highest activity limitations
• 20 percent of Hispanics reported severe pain, physical limitations and work limitations
• Pain and activity limitations are more common among all Hispanics with arthritis than among whites
Exercise can help ease arthritis pain and activity limitations.
The CDC, the Arthritis Foundation and National Alliance of Hispanic Health (NAHH) offer Spanish language courses skills for managing arthritis. The courses include information on learning strategies to control, beat the pain and disability of arthritis. These health programs are free.
• Programa de Manejo Personal de la Artritis (Arthritis Self Management Program) is a class developed specifically for people with arthritis. To find out about availability, you can click on the map link to find a program near you. Use this map to locate your state arthritis program. http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/state_programs.htm
• Tomando Control de Su Salud (Taking Control of Your Health) is a class that addresses arthritis and other chronic conditions such as heart disease. Use this map to locate your state arthritis program.
http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/state_programs.htm
• Manejando Mi Artritis (The Arthritis Toolkit) is a self-study program for Spanish speaking adults with arthritis. Click on the link for additional information.
http://patienteducation.stanford.edu/programs_spanish/asmpesp.html
• The Alliance offers a toll-free bilingual (Spanish and English) helpline. Contact Su Familia National Hispanic Family Health Helpline at (1-866-783-2645 or 1-866-SU-FAMILIA). This program offers free health information and referrala to health providers, including community health centers, in your community.
• The Arthritis Foundation offers a joint-safe exercise programs called Life Improvement Series. Land or water exercise programs are offered at more than 1,700 locations in the US.
http://www.arthritis.org/programs.php
• The Alliance is supporting Hispanic families making movement a daily part of their lives and improving access to healthy food through their !Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving! free event series. The free series is the largest annual Hispanic family healthy lifestyle event. To learn more, visit www.getupgetmoving.org (English) or www.vivetuvida.org (Spanish).
• The Arthritis Foundation’s Self-Help Program is offered in both English and Spanish. These techniques can lead to a 40 percent reduction in pain.
http://www.arthritis.org/self-help-program.php
Visit the following organizations to find programs offered in your area and to order free educational materials.
www.arthritis.org
www.arthritis.org/espanol
www.hispanichealth.org/
www.cdc.gov/arthritis/interventions.htm
Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsArthritisHispanics/?s_cid=fb750
http://www.arthritis.org/advocacy:hispanics.php