CARL SARGEANT AM HOSTS ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS DISCUSSION
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has hosted a round table discussion on Ankylosing Spondylitis at the National Assembly for Wales (on Tuesday 14th October 2008).Attendees included representatives of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Wales Sub-Group on Arthritis, the National Angkolysing Spondylitis Society, leading clinicians, and people with the condition.Ankylosing Spondylitis is a chronic, painful, degenerative inflammatory arthritis primarily affecting the spine. The condition affects approximately 1 in 200 men and 1 in 500 women. Men, women and children can all suffer from AS. It typically strikes people in their late teens and twenties, with the average age being 24. However, symptoms can start at other periods of life. AS is more common in men, with nearly three times as many men having it as women.Mr Sargeant said: “I have been very pleased to host this event because there is such low public awareness of this condition. “Young men are most at risk of developing this condition, with the average age being 24. Young men are not renowned for being overly concerned about their health, so they often suffer needlessly for some time before seeking help from their GP. Early diagnosis and intervention are important because the condition, which cannot be cured, can be effectively managed. “The condition is also often misdiagnosed. I am confident that our event will also help raise awareness among health professionals. We need to ensure that people with the condition access the appropriate medical and physiotherapy services as early as possible.“Many concerns and ideas were raised at the meeting, and we will be feeding them into the policy and decision making process at the National Assembly for Wales. This meeting is just the start.”
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has hosted a round table discussion on Ankylosing Spondylitis at the National Assembly for Wales (on Tuesday 14th October 2008).Attendees included representatives of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Wales Sub-Group on Arthritis, the National Angkolysing Spondylitis Society, leading clinicians, and people with the condition.Ankylosing Spondylitis is a chronic, painful, degenerative inflammatory arthritis primarily affecting the spine. The condition affects approximately 1 in 200 men and 1 in 500 women. Men, women and children can all suffer from AS. It typically strikes people in their late teens and twenties, with the average age being 24. However, symptoms can start at other periods of life. AS is more common in men, with nearly three times as many men having it as women.Mr Sargeant said: “I have been very pleased to host this event because there is such low public awareness of this condition. “Young men are most at risk of developing this condition, with the average age being 24. Young men are not renowned for being overly concerned about their health, so they often suffer needlessly for some time before seeking help from their GP. Early diagnosis and intervention are important because the condition, which cannot be cured, can be effectively managed. “The condition is also often misdiagnosed. I am confident that our event will also help raise awareness among health professionals. We need to ensure that people with the condition access the appropriate medical and physiotherapy services as early as possible.“Many concerns and ideas were raised at the meeting, and we will be feeding them into the policy and decision making process at the National Assembly for Wales. This meeting is just the start.”
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