Curb the sedentary lifestyle; reports show women suffering from arthritis more than men

New Delhi, October 12: Arthritis is a chronic illness that affects the joints mostly. The disorder hits elderly people from their early 50s. And the prevalence of arthritis is rising the most in women rather than men, reports SRL Diagnostics yesterday.

Arthritis affects more than 180 million people in India and its prevalence is much higher than many well-known diseases such as diabetes, AIDS and cancer, said the company in a statement.

SRL Diagnostics’ Laboratory results show that women have higher levels of abnormal ESR (Ethrocyte Sedimentation rate) of around 52.07% more than men. Such levels clearly indicate that women suffer the most. The reason for this also could be that women lose bone density sooner than men. In a pan India data analysis the abnormal ESR values were more commonly observed in women while the abnormal CRP values (59.34 per cent) were more commonly seen in men.

Jaypee Hospital’s Sonal Mehra says, “In India, arthritis is more common in women than men and people who are overweight.” If current trends continue, India will be affected by Osteoarthritis by 2025 with more than 60 million patients. Increasing longevity of India’s population and rising obesity, caused by lack of physical exercise and sedentary lifestyle are the main reasons behind this. It’s high time that people realize the fact that the current lifestyle should be curbed and a more holistic approach should be accepted.