June Russell's Health Facts

Alcohol - Arthritis

[Prevalence]   [Joint Pain and Gout]   [Drug Interactions]   [Other Reports]  

Prevalence of Arthritis

One in every four U.S. adults (49 million people) has doctor-diagnosed arthritis, and the problem is likely to get bigger as baby boomers age and as Americans get fatter, government figures show. In 1997, the last year for which there were numbers available, the cost for the treatment of arthritis totaled $86.2 billion — a staggering 1% of the U.S. gross domestic product.
{CDC: “Arthritis rampant, growing, and costly,” May 14, 2004 edition of the CDC publication Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report}

There are 50 million Americans suffering with arthritis.
{“Health and Healing” newsletter by Julian Whitaker, MD, Aug. 1997}

Sixty-eight percent of women older than 65 who have osteoarthritis. Almost everyone over the age of 60 (43 million Americans) has some form of osteoarthritis, although only about one-half have symptoms of pain or stiffness.
{People’s Medical Booklet, 1995}

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says by the year 2020, 18% of the population will suffer from arthritis. Currently arthritis affects 40 million people, and 80% of those are over 50 years of age.
{Prescription for Health, Radio talk show, Jan. 11, 1997}

Joint Pain and Gout

Gout is a type of arthritis caused by too much uric acid, which forms crystals in the blood that eventually accumulate in the joints (most often in the big toe). The result is acute swelling, inflammation and agonizing pain in the joints. Men are more likely to get gout, which can be brought on by drinking alcohol — drinking beer doubles the risk for men.
(“Drink milk to prevent a gout attack,” by Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld, ‘Parade,’ May 9, 2004.

In the 1989 book, “Arthritis: What Works,” by Sobel and Klein: Top-rated techniques for fast relief.” Many arthritics report that they suffer increased joint pain after even a small amount of alcohol.

An excess of uric acid in the fluid around the joints causes crystals to form. Cut back on alcohol, since alcohol inhibits the processing of uric acid. Gout is brought on by a build-up of a chemical known as uric acid that is produced during ordinary metabolism. Sometimes the normal balance between the production and excretion becomes upset.
{“Medical Mailbox,” by Cory SerVaas, MD, Saturday Evening Post, Sept./Oct. 1995}

Avoid alcohol, which promotes swelling and causes joint inflammation.
{“Out of Joint, Easing Arthritis Pain,” Healthwell.com, Sept. 24, 2000}

For those with arthritis, avoid alcohol (he mentions wine) as well as red meat because of the problem resulting in uric acid. If you have gout — no alcohol.
{Joseph Disabato, DPM, Jefferson Foot and Ankle Associates. Charlottesville, VA, at a Senior Center lecture}

Alcohol, Drug Interactions, and Arthritis

Jason Theodosakis, MD, in his book “Arthritis Cure,” says not to use alcohol while taking NSAIDS because of the risk of stomach problems.

Avoid alcohol, because alcohol can deplete the body of vitamins and minerals besides being high in calories. It also can interact with medications for arthritis.
{Arthritis on about.com, Jan. 2003}

Other Reports

Toxins, most commonly alcohol, can also cause muscle disease. Doctors advise people with this condition not to drink alcohol.
{David Pisetsky, MD, PhD, The Duke University Medical Center Book of Arthritis, 1992)

"Joint Venture: Maintaining Healthy Joints as We Age." Anything the body perceives as an 'offending substance,' such as alcohol and cigarette smoke, may activate the inflammatory process and make the condition more persistent.
{Jeffrey S. Bland, President of Healthcomm, Inc., in Gig Harbor, Washington, in Delicious! magazine - May/June 1992}

Dr. James Braly, author of Food Allergy and the Nutrition Revolution, says that arthritis patients seem to do better on a diet that limits alcohol.
{Energy Times magazine, Mar./Apr. 1995}