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Straight from the Expert
Arthritis & Autoimmunity Research Centre –
Dr. Eleanor Fish
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| Dr. Eleanor Fish, Director of the Arthritis & Autoimmunity Research Centre |
Dr. Eleanor Fish, Director of the Arthritis & Autoimmunity Research Centre, talks about the disease and gives tips for managing it.
What is arthritis?
There are many different kinds of arthritis. When people complain about joint pain and stiffness it’s typically a result of wear-and-tear, and is usually osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease and, unlike osteoarthritis, which may only affect one joint such as a knee or a hip, rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive disease. It may start in the hands but it moves to other joints. It is not a consequence of wear-and-tear but the result of a spread of inflammation.
Is arthritis an elderly disease?
Absolutely not. Arthritis is a disease that has no regard for age. Nearly three in five people with arthritis are under 65 and more than a quarter of those with it between 25 and 44 years old are out of the labour force due to their condition.
Arthritis also affects the very young; it’s among the most common chronic diseases in children. An estimated one in 1,000 Canadian children under 16 years old live with juvenile arthritis.
What season has the greatest impact on aches and pains?
There is no question that there are periods throughout the year when humidity, sunlight or temperature seems to affect people in terms of their flare-ups. When we’re talking about a disease that is affected by an immune response, environmental factors certainly have the potential to influence one’s immune system.
Sunlight is one environmental factor that few people think about. But because of the association between sunlight and vitamin D and the influence of vitamin D on immune responses, sunlight may have an impact on an autoimmune disease.
What limitations does arthritis have on one’s activities?
Pain is a big issue and influences so many aspects of life. Joint disability absolutely affects mobility, which can make it difficult or even impossible for some people to get to work or function effectively in the workplace.
Recreation time will be affected as well. Someone in pain is not going to be taking walks or playing sports. It can also affect social activities—you may not be able go out and the chronic pain can affect emotional well-being too.
That arthritis has an impact on all aspects of your life means that it plays a pivotal role in your ability to have an income and support yourself.
What are good activities for people with arthritis?
Increased motion can benefit many of those suffering from several types of arthritis as well as other autoimmune diseases such as fibromyalgia and ankylosing spondylitis.
Low-impact is the key when it comes to choosing activities that are beneficial. Activities that include stretching, such as yoga or pilates, are excellent for improving joint flexibility and range of motion. Yoga is incredibly effective at managing pain and mobility issues that accompany autoimmune diseases.
And because yoga has several styles with varying degrees of difficulty, people can adjust their participation and work at their comfort level. Alternatively, many activities that take place in water—like swimming or water aerobics—are wonderful for chronic joint pain because the water takes the weight-bearing load off your joints.
What work is being done at AARC that will improve life for those with arthritis or other autoimmune diseases?
Within AARC, we have international leaders in different disciplines of research who are focused exclusively on understanding these diseases and finding ways to prevent, treat and cure them. These are recognized leaders, not just in Canada, but internationally.
You bring all these people to the table, all focused on arthritis and autoimmune diseases, and you have an incredible opportunity to have a profound impact in the near future on the care, management and potential new intervention strategies. And it’s all happening here at UHN.
