May is National Arthritis Awareness Month, and there are many ways that YOU can take action to spread arthritis awareness. Utilizing social media to spread the word is a great idea. So is signing petitions and supporting advocacy efforts like this Action Alert.  You could also sign up for an Arthritis Walk in your area, or make a donation towards finding a cure.

However, as many of you know, people with certain types of arthritis, such as the autoimmune form, rheumatoid arthritis, are likely to also have overlapping conditions, like Lupus or Celiac Disease. It’s no wonder, then, that it’s also Lupus Awareness Month AND Celiac Awareness Month, too. But that’s not all! …

Take a look at the list below to see what other illnesses and conditions are represented and advocated in America during the very merry month of May:

• Arthritis (various forms)
• Lupus
• Celiac
• Ehlers-Danos Syndrome
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (a.k.a. ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
• Asthma and Allergies
• Hepatitis
• Huntingdon’s Disease
• High Blood Pressure
• Melanoma/Skin Cancer
• Stroke
• Mental Health
• Osteoporosis
• Tuberous Sclerosis
• Women’s Health

May 20th is also World Autoimmune Arthritis Day. Interestingly, May is also an awareness month for: better posture, better sleep, sport and physical activity, and more, in addition to also including National Nurses’ Appreciation Week and National Teacher Appreciation Week.

It’s a great time to thank a teacher for helping your child along with juvenile arthritis, or to give flowers to a special nurse who you see regularly. It’s also a nice time of year to become more active, and to join a walk for any one of these important conditions recognized this May.

Awareness is key when it comes to the prevention and cure of many conditions, so let’s plant seeds of knowledge this May, and watch them bloom!

Be Well,

Ashley Boynes-Shuck

What’s YOUR weapon against arthritis?

Let’s all unite against arthritis. Together, we will achieve the vision of a world free from arthritis