NBC’s chief medical editor Nancy Snyderman says knowing your body can help you detect life-threatening diseases like arthritis.
Arthritis is the number one disability in the U.S.
“Doctors think the earlier you treat this the more you can reduce symptoms,” says Snyderman.
So, if you notice that your joints are stiff, contact your doctor immediately.
Although arthritis is often associated with old age, the auto-immune disease can develop in children and teens.
But “the pain and stiffness and swelling and redness can be different in kids than it is in adults,” says Snyderman.
The good news is that there are a lot of good therapies, including biologics for children, says Snyderman.
Visit the Arthritis Foundation‘s website for more information.
And to hear what the medical editor has to say about detecting oral diseases, cancer and depression early, click here.
