Some 50 million adults across the U.S. experience some form of arthritis, ranging from mild inflammation and pain in the joints to debilitating disease that permanently damages the joints. There are hundreds of types of arthritis, but the most common, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, affect more women than men and are almost always more painful for women. Understanding the reasons may help in managing and preventing onset.
Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage that provides cushioning in the joints deteriorates, causing painful bone-on-bone movement. Wear and tear, previous injuries, and age are all factors in whether a person will develop osteoarthritis. Once started, the disease often progresses from mild discomfort to a breakdown of cartilage that causes significant pain.
Rheumatoid arthritis, among the most debilitating forms of arthritis, manifests as severe inflammation in the joints caused by an autoimmune reaction. The pain and joint damage that result are unrelated to age, injury or wear and tear, and the disease may develop at a much younger age, especially in women.
While one in 5 men will develop arthritis in their lifetime, the disease across most of its types impacts one in four women. Beyond gender differences, the disease also impacts different joints in women than in men.
Arthritis facts – women vs. men
- While men typically develop osteoarthritis in hips, women generally get it in their hands and knees. This is in part because a woman’s stretchy tendons (to accommodate pregnancy) make those joints more vulnerable to injury or overuse, leading to arthritis.
- The incidence of rheumatoid arthritis in women is 3 times that of men because autoimmune diseases occur in significantly more women than men.
- Men tend to get arthritis at a younger age than women, but numbers for women catch up as their estrogen levels wane. Hormone levels appear to play a greater role in the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, as an aging woman’s decreasing estrogen levels allow joint inflammation to increase.
- The stress on joints from excess weight creates a greater risk of developing osteoarthritis in both women and men, but women are more vulnerable as severe obesity is more prevalent in women – about 11% of women compared to about 7% of men.
Arthritis prevention
Age continues to be the greatest risk factor for developing arthritis, and choosing a healthy lifestyle is the best way to reduce the risk and the severity of this disease for both men and women. The specialists at Stark Women’s Center encourage you to keep the following in mind to reduce your risk for developing arthritis.
Diet – A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (fish, nuts, seeds, plant oils) is especially helpful in preventing rheumatoid arthritis in women.
Exercise – Regular workouts with resistance training or simply keeping the joints moving by walking, taking stairs when possible, and playing with pets, keeps the joints flexible and strengthens muscles to support them, preventing injuries that commonly lead to osteoarthritis
Weight management – Keeping an optimum weight lessens the pressure on joints and reduces inflammation caused by cytokines (proteins produced by fat cells that can actually break down the cartilage in joints).
Reduce blood sugar – People with diabetes have a greater incidence of arthritis because it causes inflammation in the joints. High blood sugar can lead to stiff cartilage that will be susceptible to injury.
Genetic links – Genetics seem to have a greater impact on your risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis than osteoarthritis, but experts agree that your best chance of delaying arthritis damage and pain is by staying active, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy diet.
If you have questions about your risk for arthritis as you get older, contact Stark Women’s Center for a consultation and guidance on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Our doctors are available to help you with treatment for arthritis pain at all stages.