Ahmedabad: Walkathon to create awareness on rheumatic diseases

Ahmedabad: Hundreds of people will take part in a walkathon at the Sabarmati riverfront on Sunday to raise awareness about rheumatological diseases. Dr Sapan Pandya, associate professor of rheumatology at SVP Hospital and vice president of the Indian Rheumatology Association, said rheumatological conditions can be broadly classified as local, systemic or non-inflammatory, and inflammatory.He said local conditions include osteoarthritis and degenerative diseases of the knees or spine, which are commonly linked to age-related wear and tear. Non-inflammatory conditions include a prolapsed disc, which involves some inflammation but is largely a mechanical issue. Inflammatory diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, which is more common in women and causes swelling and pain in multiple joints, such as fingers and wrists, along with morning stiffness lasting more than an hour. "While rheumatoid arthritis is very common, with one in 100 people getting it, others are rarer. The idea is to improve the ratio. We have only 2,000-odd rheumatologists in India, including physicians. Awareness needs to be manifold both within the medical fraternity and the public. Many patients lose jobs and cannot work because of deformities, damage or complications of unrelenting disease," Pandya said. Experts also shared the case of an individual who was brought to the hospital by his father after he developed pain in the buttocks and stiffness in the back. His father, who had experienced similar symptoms, sought early treatment so that his son would not suffer the same debilitating pain. "We want to dispel myths and educate citizens about various conditions through the walkathon," an organizer said.
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