Arthritis is at epidemic proportions in our nation. More than 50 million adults and 300,000 children have doctor-diagnosed arthritis and more than 900,000 of them live right here in Minnesota. Yet arthritis remains an epidemic, overlooked by many because they view it as an inevitable disease of aging; but it is not inevitable, and it is not just a disease of the elderly. I found that out six years ago when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis is the No. 1 cause of disability in the United States. More than 6,000 children in Minnesota have juvenile arthritis, one of the most prevalent diseases among our children. More children are diagnosed with arthritis than juvenile diabetes, cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy combined. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common and serious forms of arthritis and is usually diagnosed in middle-age adults, but it often occurs in the 20s and 30s.

May is National Arthritis Month, and I encourage your community to help put the arthritis epidemic in the spotlight. How? Participate in the Walk to Cure Arthritis on May 3 at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Myers Field House. This walk serves the southern Minnesota area and is the only walk in our area. Participating and raising funds for the Walk to Cure Arthritis helps fund research to help create better treatment options today and to help find a cure for tomorrow. Walking can also serve as a great pain reliever. Moving just 30 minutes daily, even 10 to 15 minutes at a time, can ease joint pain, promote mobility and reduce fatigue often associated with arthritis.

To learn more about the Walk to Cure Arthritis and the many ways the Arthritis Foundation can help you manage your arthritis, call 800-333-1380 or visit www.arthritis.org/minnesota. Thank you, and I know together we can make a difference.

 

Roberta Stenzel

committee member

Walk To Cure Arthritis

Waseca