10 Best Places to Live in the US if you have Rheumatoid Arthritis

This article will help you to find the best places to live in the US if you have rheumatoid arthritis. People who are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis have only one wish, to get better and relieve themselves from pain. The best way to battle the symptoms of this chronic illness is by keeping yourself active and visiting rheumatologists on a regular basis. That’s why rheumatoid arthritis patients need to be very careful when choosing the place to live. They should look for locations that are close to a respectable rheumatology institutions, with plenty of parks and recreational areas. The climate is also a very important consideration, and more information about weather conditions in different cities can be found in our list of Best Places to Live with Arthritis and Fibromyalgia in the US. That’s why today, we’ve decided to take a completely different approach in this article.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder, which occurs when the immune system attacks body’s own tissues. The first and the most common symptom of this illness is a chronic joint inflammation and pain. That is because the condition affects joint’s alignment and causes deformity and bone erosion. Rheumatoid arthritis can also spread to other parts of the body and affect skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood vessels, salivary glands and bone tissue.

Medicine still doesn’t know the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis, but the most recent studies have found that genetic component plays a very important role. Although the genes don’t cause this disorder by themselves, they make people vulnerable to different outside influences, including viruses, bacteria, and continuous exposure to asbestos, silica, and dust. Obesity is another risk factor. Overweight people have a higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, especially if they are older than 55.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are usually prescribed with several types of medications, from corticosteroids that relieve them from acute symptoms to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that slow the disorder’s progression and protect joints and bones from permanent damage.

In some cases, rheumatoid arthritis may require surgery, especially if medications fail to prevent the joint damage. Interventions like synovectomy, tender repair, and joint fusion can be quite expensive, as well as all the medication we mentioned above. That’s why we have chosen the Kaiser Foundation’s List of Regions with the Least Expensive Insurance Markets, as the basis for determining the ten best places to live in the US if you have rheumatoid arthritis. In this list, the Kaiser Foundation’s researchers have compared the lowest silver premiums for 40 year-olds, which perfectly fit into our methodology because most patients get affected by rheumatoid arthritis when they are between 40 and 60 years of age.

We have also used the USNews Best Hospitals Ranking. The proximity of a respectable rheumatology institution is an important factor for choosing the ideal home location.

Since obesity is another important risk factor, we have used the Campbell Soup Company’s ‘10 Most Organic Cities in America’ list to determine which cities offer the best selection of organic produce. Rheumatoid arthritis patients need to be physically active. Tai Chi is one of the activities which efficiently relieves them from the most painful symptoms .Since tai chi, yoga, hiking and other light exercises and stretches are even more relaxing when being done outdoors, we have also used the ParkScore’s city rating for determining the best places to live in the US if you have  rheumatoid arthritis.

The overall score for each city on this list represents the sum of the first figure from the city’s park score and extra points for high ranking rheumatology institution, low-cost insurance premiums and organic rating from the Campbell Soup Company’s list. Now, let’s see our list of best places to live in the US if you have rheumatoid arthritis.

10. Washington D.C.

Score: 8;

The closest high-ranking rheumatology institution: no hospitals in the top ten list;

Park score: 79;

The lowest cost of the silver monthly premium for forty-year-olds (2014): not listed;

Organic ranking: 10;

The capital of the United States has overcome its former reputation, and today it is considered as one of the America’s most friendly and cosmopolitan cities. The District of Columbia has several respectable health care institutions, including MedStar and Virginia Hospital Center. The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore is also relatively close, and patients can reach it by Metrobus or Amtrak.  Washington D.C. also offers a nice selection of organic markets and vegan and vegetarian restaurants, and it took the tenth place on the Campbell Soup Company’s Most Organic Cities in America list.

9. Los Angeles

Score: 9;

The closest high-ranking rheumatology institution (rank): UCLA Medical Center (6);

Park score: 41.5;

The lowest cost of the silver monthly premium for forty-year-olds (2014): not listed;

Organic ranking: not listed;

As a second most populous city in the United States, LA can be a little bit tiresome for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Still, it is the home of UCLA Medical Center, which features a 20.1 rheumatology rating. Apart from this, Los Angeles also offers mild climate and a high number of beaches and other recreational areas.

8. Cleveland

Score: 13;

The closest high-ranking rheumatology Institution (rank): Cleveland Clinic (3);

Park score: 54;

The lowest cost of the silver monthly premium for forty-year-olds (2014): not listed;

Organic ranking: not listed;

Cleveland is often called a ‘Forest City,’ due to its forested nature. Still, the park lands take only 6% of the city area. The reason for adding Cleveland to the list of best places to live in the US if you have rheumatoid arthritis is a great reputation of the Cleveland Clinic, which employs more than 40 doctors, specialized in Rheumatology and has a 39.8 Rheumatology Score on the USNews platform.

7. Baltimore

Score: 14;

The closest high-ranking rheumatology institution (rank): Johns Hopkins Hospital (1);

Park score: 49;

The lowest cost of the silver monthly premium for forty-year-olds: not listed;

Organic ranking: not listed;

In spite of its rough reputation, Baltimore offers temperate climate and plenty of hospitality. It’s also the home of Johns Hopkins Hospital, with Rheumatology Department that employs 31 doctors. The Johns Hopkins Hospital has received an incredibly high ranking of 45 on USNews’s Best Hospitals List, and it is considered to be the best rheumatology hospital in the United States.

6. Pittsburgh

Score: 16;

The closest high-ranking rheumatology institution (rank): UPMC Presbyterian Shady Side (9);

Park score: 57.5;

The lowest cost of the silver monthly premium for forty-year-olds (2014): $164;

Organic ranking: not listed;

With its broad rivers, and nice-looking hills and bridges, Pittsburgh, the next one on the list of the best places to live in the US if you have rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most scenic cities in the United States. The city also has a solid ParkScore, with 20 recreation and senior centers per 20,000 residents. In addition to all this, Pittsburgh takes the third place on the Kaiser Foundation’s Least Expensive Insurance list. A monthly silver premium for 40-year-olds can be purchased for only $164.

5. Portland

Score: 17;

The closest high-ranking rheumatology institution (rank): no hospitals in the top ten list;

Park score: 77.5;

The lowest cost of the silver monthly premium for forty-year-olds (2014): not listed;

Organic ranking: 1;

The second biggest city in the Pacific Northwest is often praised for its outstanding beauty, great outdoor environment, and environmentally-friendly urban planning. It’s no wonder that Portland, the next one on the list of best places to live in the US if you have rheumatoid arthritis has one of the highest park scores in the country. It is also the most organic city in the United States, at least according to the Campbell Soup Company Research. The city has a great selection of organic, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free restaurants and it’s perfect for people who enjoy quiet and healthy living.

4. San Francisco

Score: 18;

The closest high-ranking rheumatology institution (rank): UCSF Medical Center (10);

Park score: 80;

The lowest cost of the silver monthly premium for forty-year-olds (2014): not listed;

Organic ranking: 2;

UCSF Medical Center is the 10th best rheumatology hospital in the United States, with 28 specialized doctors. San Francisco, the number four on our list of best places to live in the US if you have rheumatoid arthritis is also famous for its parks that are rated as the third-best in the country. People who follow special diets and enjoy fresh and healthy produce won’t have problems with finding their favorite eating place in the Bay Area since San Francisco is proclaimed to be the second most organic city in America.

3. New York City

Score: 19;

The closest high-ranking rheumatology institution (rank): The Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia (2) and Cornell and Hospital for Joint Diseases (8);

Park score: 74;

The lowest cost of the silver monthly premium for forty-year-olds (2014): not listed

Organic ranking: not listed;

As the biggest city on the list, New York, the number 3 on our list of best places to live in the US if you have rheumatoid arthritis offers a great selection of respectable health care institutions. Two New York’s hospitals have found their place on the top ten list of USNews Best Hospital Ranking. The Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell is one of the best-rated healthcare institutions in the country, with 20 doctors specializing in rheumatic diseases and conditions. In New York, you will also find a specialized Hospital for Joint Diseases. More than 50 rheumatology health professionals have plenty of experience in treating various forms of rheumatoid arthritis, due to a huge outbreak of this disorder after the 9/11 attacks. New York City also has an incredibly strong park score, since greenery covers 20% of its City Area.

2. St.Paul

Score: 25;

The closest high-ranking rheumatology institution (rank): Mayo Clinic (4);

Park score: 82.5;

The lowest cost of the silver monthly premium for forty-year-olds: $154;

Organic ranking: not listed;

The citizens of St.Paul that ranks second on our list of best places to live in the US if you have rheumatoid arthritis enjoy the most affordable health care. They share the first place on Kaiser Foundation’s list with Minneapolis and several nearby cities and towns. St.Paul is also a runner-up on the ParkScore list with 23 acres of parks that constitute 16% of the city area. When it comes to recreational facilities, St.Paul parks provide 20 recreation and senior centers per 20,000 inhabitants, which is more than any other city in the United States, accept Minneapolis. St. Paul is also relatively close to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN.

1. Minneapolis

Score: 30;

The closest high-ranking rheumatology institution (rank): Mayo Clinic (4);

Park score: 87.5;

The lowest cost of the silver monthly premium for forty-year-olds: $154

Organic ranking: 5;

Minneapolis has taken the leading position on our list of best places to live in the US if you have rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with this condition, who live in the Minneapolis Metro Area, have wide access to affordable health care and medication and plenty of green areas that are ideal for light physical activity. The most affordable silver monthly premium in this city is $154. It is more than a half of the price of the average silver monthly premium for forty-year-olds in the United States, which in 2016 amounted to $321. Apart from affordable health care Minneapolis also has plenty of parks. It’s been on the top of the ParkScore list for several years with more than 28 acres of parks that are equally distributed among low-, medium- and high-income areas.