Contact:   Dr. Srinivasan
Complete Care Community Health Center in Monterey Park
(626) 458-8401

Complete Care Community Health Center in Monterey Park Teams Up With NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw And The American College Of Rheumatology To Tackle Rheumatic Disease

With one in four Americans currently suffering from rheumatic diseases—including an estimated 5,719,000 people in CA alone— Complete Care Community Health Center in Monterey Park is teaming up with former NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) to raise awareness about this growing and costly healthcare crisis during September’s Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month.

Bradshaw, who lives with rheumatoid arthritis, is serving as the official spokesperson for Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month.

“You don’t have to be an old athlete like me to have sore joints,” says Bradshaw in a public service announcement that will air on television stations nationwide. “These diseases are serious, life-long, and can really put a hitch in your giddy-up if you don’t get help.”

 Rheumatic diseases—which include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus, gout, Sjögren’s syndrome, juvenile idiopathic arthritis and hundreds of lesser-known conditions—are expected to affect nearly 80 million Americans by the year 2040, according to the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Rheumatic diseases often strike individuals in the prime of their lives and can lead to long-term disability and early death if not treated early and effectively. Although there is no cure for the rheumatic disease, early intervention by a rheumatologist can help patients manage symptoms and maintain a normal quality of life.

Questions? Consult with our nationally-recognized Rheumatology Specialist

Rheumatic Disease Symptoms

Rheumatic diseases can be systemic in nature and may affect various joints and/or organs. The symptoms of rheumatic diseases can vary depending on what part of the body is affected. Rheumatic diseases don’t just affect older adults. An estimated 300,000 children live with painful juvenile idiopathic arthritis, which can lead to physical disability, blindness, and other complications if not treated early. And about 20 percent of people with lupus develop the disease before age 20.

“Seeing a rheumatologist within the first weeks and months of disease onset – what rheumatologists call the ‘window of opportunity’– can dramatically improve long-term outcomes for patients, so it is important to know what symptoms to look for and when to ask for a referral to a specialist,” said ACR President Sharad Lakhanpal, MD, MBBS.

Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month is sponsored by Simple Tasks, an international public awareness campaign from the American College of Rheumatology.