Top Facts About Rheumatic Diseases
Test your knowledge and learn the top facts about rheumatic diseases.
Chronic inflammation which is characteristic of rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease also increases the risk of many other diseases, such as: cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, osteoporosis, infections, diabetes, depression, and cancer.
Sources:
Ziade, N., El Khoury, B., Zoghbi, M. et al. Prevalence and pattern of comorbidities in chronic rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: the COMORD study.
There are about 200 different forms of rheumatic disease with very different symptoms. If you have any of these symptoms you should see a doctor:
Pain that is constant or comes and go. It may occur when at rest or while moving, or in one part of the body or in many different parts.
Swelling that causes the skin over the affected joint to become red and swollen, feeling warm to the touch
Stiffness especially when waking up in the morning or after sitting still for a long time. Morning stiffness that lasts longer than an hour is good reason to suspect arthritis.
Extreme tiredness is a common symptom of a rheumatic disease.
Sources:
https://www.eular.org/myUploadData/files/10%20things%20on%20RD.pdf
- Women are more often affected by rheumatic diseases than men.
- Up to 1 baby or child in 1’000 is estimated to be affected by rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, the causes are unknown. Other diseases such as Ankylosing Spondyloarthritis generally start in puberty or early adulthood.
- 60% of those affected by rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases are of working age.
- Some people find relief in warmth, for others cold helps more. Climate is neither the cause nor the cure of rheumatic diseases.
Sources:
https://www.eular.org/myUploadData/files/10%20things%20on%20RD.pdf
https://www.rheumaliga.ch/blog/2016/was-ist-rheuma
https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Juvenile-Arthritis
The Swiss Rheumaliga estimates that 2’000’000 are affected by rheumatic diseases in Switzerland. This figure of about one person in four is consistent with other countries in the Western world. The annual health costs are estimated at 23 billion Swiss francs per year. In comparison, cardiovascular diseases account for around 17 billion Swiss francs and cancer for around 11 billion Swiss francs.
Source:
https://www.rheumaliga.ch/medienmitteilungen/facts-and-figures
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