About 1 percent of the American population lives with this condition. But of those 1.5 million people, 2 to 3 times as many women than men develop RA, and 70 percent of people with RA are women, according to the Arthritis Foundation.
Rheumatoid Awareness Day Is Held on February 2, the Same Day as Groundhog Day
The day was created in 2013 by the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation (RPF) to help raise awareness for all of the people who function daily with both pain and misconceptions about this chronic disease. Research, such as a study published in July 2020 in RDM Open, has shown that a lack of public education and awareness can lead to delays in seeking medical advice, which can result in inadequate treatment.
Busting Myths About Rheumatoid Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis
“I think the biggest myth about rheumatoid arthritis is that it is a type of arthritis, and not an immune system disease,” says Kelly O’Neill Young, president of the RPF and author of Rheumatoid Arthritis Unmasked: 10 Dangers of Rheumatoid Disease. “It has more in common with multiple sclerosis and lupus. It’s not that similar to osteoarthritis.” According to the National Institutes of Health, autoimmune diseases may never go away, cause severe disability, negatively impact quality of life, and are likely to decrease longevity.
Other Misconceptions About RA
Another inaccurate opinion about rheumatoid disease that O’Neill Young cites is that the people who have the disease must somehow be to blame for it or are imagining or exaggerating their symptoms. “There is a public health message today that people need to take charge of their well-being, and an unfortunate side effect of that is that many people now believe that chronic diseases must somehow be behavior based,” says O’Neill Young. “That the person who has the disease is doing something to make it happen, be worse, or not improve. But that’s really not true.” Autoimmune diseases are not generally caused by lifestyle choices. “The only behavior that we have seen to improve it is to stop smoking, but it’s not exactly clear why,” she says.
The Origin of Rheumatoid Awareness Day
The official name of the day does not include the word “arthritis” because RPF is campaigning to refer to the medical condition by the more traditional term that’s used in medical literature. “Arthritis is just one of the symptoms,” says O’Neill Young. “We chose the month of February for our awareness day because it is Heart Disease Month, and the two diseases are closely linked.” One study published in November 2018 in Arthritis Care & Research found that people with RA under age 45 had an almost threefold increased risk of cardiovascular disease death compared with the general population, in large part because of the high-grade, systemic inflammation that goes along with RA. “During Rheumatoid [Awareness] Day, members of our CreakyJoints patient community have a natural spotlight to raise awareness among their family, friends, and community about the challenges of living and managing a lifelong chronic disease,” says Seth Ginsberg, president and cofounder of CreakyJoints. “It invites dialogue, which is important for building the support system that people with arthritis rely on while dealing with the ups and downs of their condition.”
Rheumatoid Awareness Day 2022: What’s Happening?
This year, you can check the RPF Facebook page for specific links and details. O’Neill Young says that the organization encourages everyone to form their own events. “We give people a lot of information and images, and we ask people to post on our and their own social media. We’ve seen all kinds of parties, cupcakes, and other activities over the years,” says O’Neill Young. Here are some resources and ideas from previous events:
Add a Twibbon to your social media avatar on Awareness Day.Join the RPF on Facebook and Twitter.Use the hashtags #RheumDay, #TheRealRD, and #RheumAwarenessDay on social media to join and follow the conversation.Donate to the RPF to help support its mission.Print a poster and hang it up in your office or in the window of your home to share facts about rheumatoid disease.Wear indigo and gold to show your support.Post on your personal blog about Rheumatoid Awareness Day.Download and share educational and awareness images via your social media accounts.
Rheumatoid Disease Is More Than Arthritis
Beyond the heart disease connection, it is well-established that rheumatic diseases increase the risks for developing a variety of other health conditions. The most common RA comorbidity is cardiovascular disease, but the condition is also associated with several specific cardiovascular issues, including heart attack, stroke, congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, and atherosclerosis. Some research even suggests the heart risks associated with RA are comparable with those linked to diabetes. It is important for people with rheumatoid disease to work with their doctors to assess their heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking, and reduce them. Osteoporosis, or low bone density, as well as mental health conditions like anxiety and depression are also common in people with RA.
More Arthritis Awareness Days and Campaigns
Arthritis Awareness Month is observed in May in the United States. It is supported by the Arthritis Foundation, the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance, and many other groups.World Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Arthritis Day, or AiArthritis Day, takes place on May 20 annually. It is sponsored by the International Foundation for Autoimmune and AutoInflammatory Arthritis.Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Week, in mid-September, is sponsored by the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society in the United Kingdom.Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month is held in September in the United States.World Arthritis Day is observed October 12.In July, raising awareness about Juvenile Arthritis, including Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), is a goal.
