Arthritis is a condition characterized by joint inflammation and has a significant global impact. As per an article in Mirchi Plus, women are notably more than twice as likely as men to be affected, particularly by osteoarthritis.
More so, Summit Orthopedics reports that 60% of nearly 27 million Americans diagnosed with osteoarthritis are women. Furthermore, the risk of developing osteoarthritis differs between genders based on age. Before the age of 55, men are more commonly affected, but after this age, the number of women with the condition exceeds that of men.
Factors Affecting Gender Disparity in Arthritis
Intermountain Healthcare reports that women tend to develop arthritis at a later stage compared to men, but the pain they experience is often more intense. While more men are affected by arthritis before the age of 55, women quickly catch up and surpass men in terms of the number of cases. Women who have arthritis consistently report higher pain scores than their male counterparts.
Other factors why women tend to have a higher risk of arthritis than men also include the following:
- Arthritis affects men and women differently, with men being more susceptible to hip joint arthritis and women commonly experiencing it in their hands and knees. This discrepancy can be attributed to women's more mobile tendons due to childbirth-related elasticity and the wider hip structure that affects knee alignment, increasing vulnerability to specific injuries leading to arthritis.
- Hormones, especially estrogen, influence arthritis risk by regulating inflammation. While younger women have a lower prevalence of arthritis due to estrogen's protective effects, the decline of estrogen during menopause often leads to the onset of arthritis. Researchers are studying the intricate connections between hormones and arthritis risk, including factors like puberty age, childbirth, and hormone replacement therapy.
- Excess weight, more common in women, contributes to arthritis susceptibility by exerting additional pressure on knee joints, causing cartilage erosion and increasing the risk of arthritis, with each extra pound of body weight translating to three pounds of pressure on each knee joint.
- A family history of arthritis, particularly in mothers, increases the chances of developing the condition at a similar age and in the same joints. This highlights the influence of genetics on arthritis susceptibility and underscores the need to consider family history as an important factor in assessing individual risk.
Treatment for Arthritis
Arthritis treatment aims to alleviate symptoms and enhance joint function, often requiring a trial-and-error approach to find the most effective treatment options for each individual. As per Mayo Clinic, there are three major ways of treating arthritis.
First, medications play a key role in managing arthritis, with various types available depending on the specific type of arthritis.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, reduce pain and inflammation, but stronger NSAIDs can have side effects.
- Topical creams and ointments with menthol or capsaicin: interfere with pain signals for relief.
- Corticosteroids prescribed in oral or injected form to reduce inflammation and joint damage could also help. Side effects may include bone thinning, weight gain, and diabetes.
- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are used for rheumatoid arthritis to slow disease progression. Side effects vary, but an increased risk of infections can occur.
Another way to treat arthritis is through therapy, particularly physical therapy, which can be beneficial for certain arthritis types. Through exercises, the range of motion can improve, and the muscles around joints can be strengthened. Splints or braces may also be recommended in specific cases.
Surgery may be an option if conservative treatments fail, with joint repair procedures performed arthroscopically, joint replacement surgery for hips and knees, and joint fusion for smaller joints, allowing bones to heal as one unit.
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