Arthritis and Its Link to Chronic Disease

Arthritis is a common condition. It causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. Over time, it can limit how you move and affect your quality of life.

More than 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. have arthritis. It is more common in older adults, but anyone can get it. There are over 100 types. The most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

How Arthritis Connects to Other Chronic Diseases

Many people with arthritis also have other health issues. These include:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Obesity

Having more than one chronic disease is called “comorbidity.” For example, people with arthritis are more likely to have type 2 diabetes.

One study showed that adults with arthritis were more than twice as likely to have diabetes. (Barbour KE, et al. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2013;62(44):869-873.)

These conditions share common causes like:

• Inflammation
• Lack of physical activity
• Poor diet
• Obesity

Arthritis in Women vs. Men

Women are more likely to have arthritis than men. According to the CDC, nearly 60% of adults with arthritis are women. Hormones may play a role, especially changes that happen during menopause. Women are also more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune type of arthritis. They often report more pain, worse symptoms, and more difficulty with daily activities compared to men.

Conventional Medicine Treatments

Doctors often treat arthritis with medications. These help reduce pain and swelling.

Common treatments include:

• NSAIDs (like ibuprofen or naproxen)
• Steroids
• Disease-modifying drugs (for rheumatoid arthritis)
• Physical therapy
• Joint replacement surgery (in severe cases)

These treatments help with symptoms. But they may not stop the disease from getting worse. Some also cause side effects, like stomach problems or weight gain.

Functional Medicine Approach

Functional medicine looks deeper. It asks, “Why do you have this disease?”

It looks at the whole person. Doctors study your:

• Diet
• Lifestyle
• Gut health
• Stress levels
• Environment

This approach aims to find and treat the root cause.

Common steps in a functional plan include:

• Anti-inflammatory diet (like the Mediterranean diet)
• Supplements like omega-3s, vitamin D, or curcumin (with medical guidance)
• Gentle movement like walking, swimming, or yoga
• Improving sleep and stress management
• Removing triggers like sugar, processed food, or toxins

Studies show that lifestyle changes can reduce joint pain and improve function. (Haaz S, et al. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2010;22(2):201-207.)

Final Thoughts

Arthritis is painful, but you are not alone. It often comes with other health problems like diabetes and heart disease.

Medications can help, but don’t stop there. Looking at your full health picture can give you better results. Food, movement, and stress management all play a role.

Talk to your doctor about both conventional and functional options. You deserve to feel better.

References:

• Barbour KE, et al. “Arthritis as a potential barrier to physical activity among adults with diabetes.” MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2013.
• Haaz S, et al. “The role of exercise in arthritis.” Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2010.
• CDC. “Arthritis in America.” https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics.htm