Global Awareness Day: Ten Fascinating Details to Disseminate
World Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Day, an annual event aimed at raising awareness, supporting individuals, and advancing research, is fast approaching. This year, the day will be celebrated on May 8, as the first Saturday of May falls on May 1, and the event moves to the second Saturday when the first falls on a holiday.
AS is a type of inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the back and pelvic joints, causing symptoms such as inflammation, stiffness, or pain, skin rashes, loose bowel movements, weight loss or loss of appetite, trouble taking a deep breath, changes in vision or pain in the eye, fatigue, and stomach pain.
The disease affects both males and females, but they experience it differently. Males typically develop the disease at a younger age, have lower disease activity but worse disease progression, worse spine mobility, and a better quality of life. On the other hand, females are more likely to get a diagnosis without delay, develop symptoms in their arms and legs, and have swelling, inflammation, and pain, causing a lower quality of life.
While there is no cure for AS, treatment focuses on keeping the spine straight, reducing pain and stiffness in the back and other joints, avoiding or minimizing organ and joint damage, preserving mobility and function, improving quality of life, and conducting ongoing research to better understand AS and provide more effective care.
Several nonmedical therapies may help alleviate symptoms of AS, such as chiropractic care, massage therapy, aquatic-based therapies, physical therapy, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), exercise, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and acupuncture (with promising evidence but requiring more structured research).
Self-care is an important part of AS treatment, involving quitting smoking, taking breaks on more challenging days, incorporating lots of stretching, eating a diet rich in nutrients, practicing good posture, and asking a doctor before starting any new therapies.
Researchers believe that a person's genes and a triggering event, such as a bacterial infection, play a role in the development of AS. More than 3 million people in the United States live with AS.
The Spondylitis Association of America (SAA) changed Ankylosing Spondylitis Awareness Month to May in 2019. The Axial Spondyloarthritis International Federation aims to raise awareness of AS, help people connect to support and care, and share information about AS on World AS Day.
The traditional classification system includes six diseases: ankylosing spondylitis, undifferentiated spondyloarthritis, enteropathic arthritis, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and juvenile spondyloarthritis. However, a newer classification system, which includes two broad categories - Axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) and Peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA) - has been developed to better reflect the diverse manifestations under the SpA spectrum and guide diagnosis and treatment approaches.
To get involved in research, individuals can ask their doctor about the possibility of signing up for a clinical trial or look at available clinical trials on the U.S. government's clinical trials website or the SAA website. Being aware of one's risk factors for developing AS can help in getting an early diagnosis and treatment.
- Science continues to advance our understanding of World Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Day and the impact it has on raising awareness and supporting individuals with the disease.
- In the workplace, workplace-wellness programs can educate employees about medical-conditions like AS and promote chronic-diseases management.
- As with many chronic-diseases, chronic-kidney-disease, COPD, type-2-diabetes, and cancers require ongoing monitoring and management.
- The respiratory-conditions associated with AS, such as shortness of breath, are also common in COPD patients.
- Maintaining digestive-health is important for overall wellness and can alleviate symptoms in individuals with AS.
- Eye-health is another critical aspect of wellness, as eye problems are common in individuals with AS.
- Hearing issues are not typically associated with AS, but they are a concern for people with many chronic-diseases.
- Health-and-wellness encompasses all aspects of an individual's life, including their physical, mental, and social health.
- Fitness-and-exercise play a significant role in managing chronic-diseases like AS and improving overall health.
- Autoimmune-disorders, such as rheumatoid-arthritis and neurological-disorders, share similarities with AS in terms of their inflammatory nature.
- Climate-change is a growing concern for the environment, and its impact on health is being studied, including its potential effects on chronic-diseases like AS.
- The manufacturing industry is a significant contributor to pollution and, in turn, climate-change, but it also has the potential to innovate and adopt more sustainable practices.
- Mental-health is an essential aspect of overall health and wellness and is closely linked to chronic-diseases such as AS.
- Skin-care is an often overlooked aspect of health, but skin-conditions can be a symptom of various chronic-diseases, including AS.
- Therapies-and-treatments for AS range from medication to physical therapy, yoga, and alternative treatments like CBD oil.
- Proper nutrition is crucial for managing AS symptoms and overall health.
- Migraines can exacerbate AS symptoms due to the overlap in triggers and inflammation.
- Cardiovascular-health is an important focus for AS patients due to the increased risk of heart disease.
- The financial industry plays a role in the management of chronic-diseases through insurance, investing, personal-finance, and banking-and-insurance services.
- Energy is a critical resource for individuals with chronic-diseases like AS and can impact productivity and quality of life.
- The retail sector can play a role in promoting health-and-wellness, including chronic-diseases management, by offering products that support healthy living.
- Public-transit and transportation options are essential for individuals with mobility issues caused by AS to access healthcare, work, and other necessary services.
- Entrepreneurship can provide opportunities for individuals with AS to create businesses that cater to the needs of individuals with chronic-diseases.
- Transportation is a significant factor in the impact of environmental-science on health, contributing to air and noise pollution.
- The automotive industry has a responsibility to consider the needs of those with disabilities, including AS, in the design and manufacture of cars.
- Small-business owners can prioritize diversity-and-inclusion in their workplaces to create a more supportive environment for individuals with chronic-diseases like AS.
- Investing in stocks, bonds, and real-estate can provide financial security for individuals with chronic-diseases like AS, but it requires understanding and knowledge of the various markets.
- Budgeting is an essential skill for managing personal-finance and can help individuals with chronic-diseases to allocate resources effectively.
- Private-equity firms have the potential to invest in businesses that focus on chronic-diseases and health-and-wellness, creating opportunities for growth and innovation in this field.
