Groundhog Day is Now Rheumatoid Awareness Day
There are many challenges to raising awareness of rheumatoid disease -- you can read my discussion on that here. But a big part of what needs to be done is simply educating the public on the truth of this disease. The term "rheumatoid arthritis" has done a huge disservice to the disease by making it sound like a type of "arthritis" (typically associated with osteoarthritis) instead of a systemic autoimmune disease that has arthritis as one of its symptoms. What I want to do here is just share some basic facts about rheumatoid disease for those who may not know what it is. The RPF has put together some great topline information:
It can be very difficult to explain to someone what it's like to live with a chronic illness, and many patients suffer with symptoms that are largely invisible (you can't see pain!). I had the opportunity to join the RPF at last year's American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting -- where one of our main goals was to share information from the patient perspective. I think the information that was pulled together for that event provides some excellent statistics and gives an idea at a quick glance at how this disease affects many people's lives:
Please considering helping us bring awareness to this often misunderstood disease. Here are a few simple ways you can get involved:
- SHARE educational and awareness images via social media: click here for a list of resources to share
- JOIN in Twitter Chat TODAY: February 2nd at 7 p.m. EST with special guest Dr. Jeffrey Curtis, Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology at University of Alabama, Birmingham. Join the conversation on TweetChat.
- MATCHING DONATION - Make a tax-deductible donation to the RPF between January 22 and February 5, 2013 and your gift will be doubled by Crescendo Bioscience! Crescendo has offered a matching donation up to $10,000!
- GRAB Awareness Gear in the new RPF store!