China has about 100 million people suffering from arthritis,
according to recent clinical research results. Experts warned, on
the world arthritis day on Thursday, that arthritis is not a
disease just affecting elderly people, but liable to affect all age
groups.
People who live in moist environments are likeliest to contract
the disease, said Tang Fulin, head of Peking Union Medical College
Hospital's Arthritis Department, adding that cold can directly
cause arthritis. Furthermore, excessive strain placed on joints can
cause osteoarthritis.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 355
million people are suffering from arthritis worldwide, including
190 million osteoarthritis patients and over 16.5 million
rheumatoid arthritis sufferers as well as sufferers of gouty and
hypertrophic arthritis.
As a severe deforming disease, serious osteoarthritis can
severely disable people and shorten their life span by 10 to 15
years. The problem is at its crux in Asia where one out of six
people is suffering arthritis.
Experts agree that the best way to prevent arthritis is to
protect oneself from attacks of coldness and humidity, do more
exercise and eat a diet based on vegetables and fruit, instead of
meat.
(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2006)