Arthritis is a common chronic condition that affects millions of people around the world. Although it can affect anyone, it disproportionately affects women. In fact, two-thirds of the people living with arthritis are women.

This begs the question: what makes women more vulnerable to arthritis?.

Biological Differences

One theory is that biological differences contribute to the gender divide in arthritis. Women have higher levels of estrogen than men, which can affect inflammation and immune responses.

Estrogen is also believed to contribute to the development of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks its own joints.

Furthermore, women tend to have smaller joints than men, which means they have less cartilage to protect their bones from wear and tear. The loss of cartilage leads to joint pain, stiffness, and eventually arthritis.

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes are another factor that may play a role in the development of arthritis in women.

Women who have gone through menopause are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis, a condition in which bones become brittle and fragile, making them more susceptible to fractures. Osteoporosis is also a risk factor for developing osteoarthritis, a form of arthritis that occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of bones wears down over time.

Furthermore, hormonal changes during pregnancy can also affect a woman’s risk of developing arthritis. Some women experience an improvement in their arthritis symptoms during pregnancy, while others experience flare-ups.

This suggests that hormones may have a complex relationship with arthritis that researchers are still working to understand.

Lifestyle Factors

Lifestyle factors also contribute to the higher prevalence of arthritis in women. Women are more likely to engage in activities that put stress on their joints, such as carrying heavy purses or wearing high heels.

Additionally, women are more likely to experience obesity, which is a significant risk factor for developing arthritis.

Women also tend to live longer than men, which means they have more time to develop arthritis.

However, simply living longer cannot fully explain the gender divide in arthritis, as women are still more likely to develop arthritis at a younger age than men.

Social and Economic Factors

Social and economic factors also play a role in the gendered nature of arthritis. Women are more likely to live in poverty, which can limit access to healthcare and make it more difficult to manage arthritis symptoms.

Women may also have more caregiving responsibilities, which can make it harder to prioritize their own health and wellbeing.

Furthermore, gender biases in healthcare can also contribute to the persistence of arthritis in women. Women are more likely to have their pain dismissed or undertreated by healthcare providers, which can delay diagnosis and treatment.

This can lead to prolonged joint damage and disability.

Conclusion

While arthritis affects people of all ages and genders, women are disproportionately affected. Biological differences, hormonal changes, lifestyle factors, and social and economic factors all contribute to the higher prevalence of arthritis in women.

Understanding these risk factors can help healthcare providers develop more targeted approaches to diagnosing and treating arthritis in women.