The Strong Woman's Approach to Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis

ATLANTA and RED BANK, N.J., Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Managing RA: The Strong Woman's Approach, is an online resource designed to educate and empower women living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), launched today at HealthyWomen.org.  There are 1.3 million Americans living with RA, and women are two to three times more likely to develop the disease than men.  Managing RA: The Strong Woman's Approach provides practical solutions and exercise advice specifically designed to address some of the challenges faced by women with RA.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that mainly involves inflammation of the joints, including small joints in hands and feet.  RA can cause painful swelling that can interrupt daily activities and may eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity if not adequately treated.  

The web-based initiative was created through a partnership between HealthyWomen, the nation's leading independent health information source for women, and UCB, Inc., a global biopharmaceutical leader in the research and development of medications to treat immunology disorders.  Managing RA: The Strong Woman's Approach is available on HealthyWomen.org and offers webcast videos with practical advice to help women with RA stay active and better understand their condition.  To view, download and share photos, videos and program materials, click here.

"As a trusted source of health information for women, HealthyWomen is thrilled to join UCB in creating this new program to fill the gap in educating women about RA," said HealthyWomen Executive Director Beth Battaglino Cahill, RN. "Now, women have a new place to turn for comprehensive advice, information and tools for living their healthiest life with RA."

Managing RA: The Strong Woman's Approach, illustrates the impact of RA on women through the insight and advice of women with a connection to RA, including:

• Beth Battaglino Cahill, RN: HealthyWomen executive director and advocate for women's health education; serves as host of the video series.
• Vibeke Strand, MD: rheumatologist, clinical professor of immunology at Stanford University, and leader in quality of life research among women with RA; provides disease background information.
• Pamela Peeke, MD: HealthyWomen medical advisor, physician, fitness and lifestyle expert and best-selling author; describes the realities of life with RA and provides strategies for maintaining an active life.
• Chaunte Smith: wife, mother, full-time working professional shares her personal experience living with RA and demonstrates exercises that are a part of her whole body approach to disease management.

In addition, HealthyWomen.org visitors can read, watch and learn from these women about proactively managing RA by seeking appropriate treatment and staying active. RA patients can then visit www.ReachBeyondRA.com to create their own personalized exercise plan based on their individual disease symptoms.

"UCB is committed to giving patients the tools and resources they need to stay active – not only physically active, but active in the management of their condition," said Kathleen Bos, MD, Vice President, U.S. Medical Affairs, UCB, Inc.  "Every element of Managing RA: The Strong Woman's Approach has been designed to help women with RA to do just that."

"Though this is a lifelong disease, women with RA should know that early, aggressive treatment can even help prevent or delay joint damage and regular exercise can help relieve pain from flare-ups," said Dr. Peeke.

To learn more about Managing RA: The Strong Woman's Approach and rheumatoid arthritis, visit www.ReachBeyondRA.com and www.HealthyWomen.org.

About the Managing RA: The Strong Woman's Approach Campaign
Managing RA: The Strong Woman's Approach is a national online consumer education program developed by UCB and HealthyWomen to raise awareness among women about living with rheumatoid arthritis.  The campaign aims to empower people affected by RA to strive for optimal disease management through treatment, to improve quality of life, and to stay active as part of a whole-body approach to living with RA.

About HealthyWomen
The nonprofit HealthyWomen (HW) organization is the leading independent health information source for women. For more than 20 years, millions of women have been coming to HW for answers to their most pressing and personal health care questions.  Through a wide array of online and print publications, HW provides health information that is original, objective, reviewed by medical experts and reflective of the advances in evidence-based health research. HealthyWomen believes all women should have access to the most trusted and reliable health information. Information empowers women to make the best decisions to maintain and improve their health and the health of their families. For more information, visit www.healthywomen.org.

About UCB
UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than 8,500 people in more than 40 countries, the company generated revenue of euro 3.2 billion in 2010. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB). The company's U.S. headquarters is located in Smyrna, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta.

For further information on UCB products, please visit www.UCB.com.

CONTACT:
Dena Koklanaris
212-886-2228
[email protected]

Marisa Bushee
202-906-9188
[email protected]

SOURCE UCB