Alcohol consumption cuts the risk of developing arthritis in half according to a recent Scandinavian study. The study, which was published ahead of print for the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, included  2750 participants.

All of the participants were quizzed about their lifestyle, including how much they smoked and drank. Blood samples were taken to check for genetic risk factors. The results showed that drinking alcohol was associated with a significantly lower risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. The results were the same for men and women.
The study also validated that smoking is a major environmental risk factor for developing arthritis. The authors concluded that their research reinforces the importance of lifestyle factors in the development of the disease, and that giving up smoking remains the single most important preventive measure. They also drew parallels with links between moderate alcohol consumption and a reduced risk of other inflammatory processes, such as cardiovascular disease.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in the joints. It can affect any joint but is especially common in the wrist and fingers. More women than men get rheumatoid arthritis. More than 1.3 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and it often starts between ages 25 and 55. Because it is a chronic disease it continues indefinitely and may not go away. It is a systemic disease, which means it can affect other organs in the body.

Source: BMJ