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Show I Mis Drive Underway Here by Volunteers Volun.ocrs are going "r-'in "r-'in Nfcwb currently on a Cive to "Stop Arthritis flf .Stops You." rding to Ann Poo. local .litis Foundation chair-u chair-u in this community alone ""out of four families has a Vr 'ho is a victim of Lis. nd in the state of h 105,000 men, women and ron are afflicted. rthritis is the number one pling disease. More than pillion Amencans suffer 1 some form of arthritis Ijsome 20 million of these le require medical care. Caided, or neglected, the disease could cripple. Often, arthritis strikes between be-tween the ages of 20 and 45, the most productive years of a person's life. Housewives, mothers, laborers, executives are caught by the agonizing disease. Even children are victims, with some 250,000 sufferers of the form known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation is at the fore-front in the fight to combat this disease. Recognized Recog-nized officially as the only national agency solely concerned con-cerned with this problem, it is supported by voluntary contributions contri-butions from the general public. The Foundation approaches 'he problem from many directions. In laboratories and centers throughout the nation, scientists seek the cause which may lead to a cure and even a preventative for arthritis. In clinics and rehabilitation centers, cen-ters, patients receive the care which relieves pain and prevents crippling. Sufferers, especially housewives, house-wives, are trained in self-help in order to continue usual routines either at clinics or through instructional materials. mater-ials. Grants are made annually to doctors which enable them to study and specialize in Theumatology and thus close the gap between the number of patients and the number of qualified physicians, which is now 20 million victims versus 2,200 rheumatologists. Through the Arthritis foundation, the most up-to-date information on the disease is made available to the public as well as the medical and scientific community. com-munity. In order to help support this important work, Mrs. Pool urges all local citizens to give generously when a Volunteer Marcher calls. There are 7 warning signs of arthritis everyone should be on the watch for. They include persistent pain and stiffness on arising; pain or tenderness in one or more joints; swelling in one or more joints; recurrence of these symptoms, especially when they involve more than one joint; pain and stiffness in the neck, lower back, knees and other joints; . tingling sensations in the fingertips, hands and feet; and unexplained weight loss, fever, fe-ver, weakness and fatigue. The Arthritis Foundation urges that should you experience experi-ence these symptons, see a qualified physician. The local chapter can furnish names of arthritis specialists and can give more detailed information about the disease, at no cost. |