Arthritis awareness campaign launched

By Shahd Alhamdan Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — “The future is in your hands” awareness campaign was launched this month as part of the international day for arthritis in an attempt to create awareness about the disease and its impact in the Kingdom. Until now, a clear preventative treatment has not been identified for rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that is believed to have a genetic, inherited element. But many experts recommend that a general healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of developing the condition. Quitting smoking, controlling weight, and doing regular exercise are some of the recommendations for reducing risk of developing the disease. The campaign was launched at King Fahd Hospital as part of move to educate and raise awareness about the disease in the Kingdom. During the campaign, Abbvie, a global biopharmaceutical company, ran several educational programs. King Fahd Hospital’s head of rheumatology department, Sabri Hammad Al Saeedi, said women are three times as likely to develop the disease than men, and that early detection would help prevent patients from developing the case. Al Saeedi said that according to some studies there are more than 250,000 people in the Kingdom suffering with rheumatoid arthritis. Consultant rheumatologist, Sultana Abdulaziz, mentioned that it is advisable that those suffering from joint pain, stiffness, or swelling, especially in the morning, should visit their family doctor or a physician who can refer the patient to a rheumatologist. Studies of arthritis and rheumatology show that rheumatic diseases are the biggest reason for driving increasing numbers of patients to clinics after upper respiratory tract infections. Studies have shown that 1-2 percent of people suffer from rheumatoid arthritis globally, and that 90 percent of people suffer from back pain at some point in their lives.