Adult-Onset Still’s Disease - Red Awareness Ribbons
Red Awareness Ribbons for Adult-Onset Still's Disease Awareness
Adult Still’s disease is a rare type of inflammatory arthritis that is similar to rheumatoid arthritis. It shares characteristics of systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis, but it begins in adulthood. Inflammation may affect a few joints at first, but may advance to include more joints over time.

Ankylosing Spondylitis - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Ankylosing Spondylitis Awareness
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory arthritis that causes pain in the joints and ligaments. The most common symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis is chronic pain and stiffness in the lower back, buttocks and hips that usually develops slowly over several weeks or months.

Back Pain - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Back Pain Awareness
The back is a common target of several types of arthritis and can cause a great deal of pain. Most back pain is due to strain, injury or posture problems affecting the ligaments or muscles of the spine. However it may be due to arthritis, scoliosis, inflamed nerves or a problem in a different part of the body.

Behçet's Disease - Light Blue Awareness Ribbons
Light Blue Awareness Ribbons for Behçet's Disease Awareness
Behçet's disease, also called Behçet's syndrome, is a rare disorder that causes seemingly unrelated symptoms in different parts of the body, including mouth sores, genital sores, eye inflammation, and skin rashes and lesions. Behçet's is believed to be an autoimmune disorder. In autoimmune disorders, the immune system turns against the body it's designed to protect for unknown reasons. In Behcet’s disease the site of that attack is the blood vessels.

Bursitis - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Bursitis Awareness
Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between a bone and muscle, skin or tendon. The type of bursitis depends on the location of the affected bursa. This condition commonly affects the shoulder, elbow, hip, buttocks, knees and calf.

Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease Awareness
Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease (CPPD) occurs when crystals form deposits in the joint and surrounding tissues. The crystal deposits provoke inflammation in the joint, which can cause the joint cartilage to break down. The disease may take a few different arthritis-related forms: osteoarthritis, a chronic rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-like inflammatory arthritis, or an acutely painful inflammatory condition called pseud-ogout.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Awareness
Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the arms, wrists and hands. It occurs when the nerve that goes from the forearm to the palm of the hand (carpal tunnel) is squeezed or pinched at the wrist. The wrist and hand may become painful, weak or numb, and these sensations may travel up the arm. Women are three times more likely than men to have carpal tunnel syndrome.

Chondromalacia Patella - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Chondromalacia Patella Awareness
Chondromalacia patella causes pain and tenderness in front or side of the knee and a grinding sensation in the knee. This condition is also known as patellofemoral pain syndrome or more commonly as “runner’s knee.” It is more common in adolescents and young adults, women and athletes that engage in sports that put a lot of stress on the knee.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a state of profound fatigue lasting six months or longer that is not improved by bed rest and that may get worse with physical or mental activity. The fatigue significantly interferes with daily activities and work.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - Orange Awareness Ribbons
Orange Awareness Ribbons for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Awareness
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), also called reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS), involves a disturbance in the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is the network of nerves located alongside the spinal cord that controls certain bodily functions, such as opening and closing blood vessels or sweat glands. CRPS causes musculoskeletal pain and skin changes, primarily in the hands and feet.

Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes - Blue or Orange Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons or Orange Awareness Ribbons Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes Awareness
Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS), also called cryopyrin-associated autoinflammatory syndrome are three disease related to a defect in the same gene: neonatal onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID), Muckle-Wells syndrome and familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome. The differences in these diseases are in their severity and the organs involved.

Degenerative Disc Disease - Cream Awareness Ribbons
Cream Awareness Ribbons for Degenerative Disc Disease Awareness
In a young and healthy back, discs between the vertebra provide height and allow bending, flexion, and twisting. As a normal process of aging, the rubbery discs begin to shrink and lose integrity. For those people in whom the degenerated discs do cause pain that cannot be attributed to another problem, they are considered to have degenerative disc disease.

Developmental-Dysplasia of Hip - Cream Awareness Ribbons
Cream Awareness Ribbons for Developmental-Dysplasia of the Hip Awareness
Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a dislocation of the hip joint in a newborn baby. The hip is made of two parts: a rounded head or “ball” and cup-like “socket.” In some babies, the socket is too shallow and the ball slips out of place in part or completely. This may happen in one or both hips.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome - Zebra Awareness Ribbons
Zebra Awareness Ribbons for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a collection of genetic disorders that affect connective tissue. People who have EDS have problems with their collagen, a protein that adds strength and elasticity to connective tissue. This faulty collagen affects many body parts, including skin, muscles and ligaments.

Familial Mediterranean Fever - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Familial Mediterranean Fever Awareness
Familial Mediterranean fever is a hereditary illness characterized by repeated attacks of painful inflammation in the abdomen, chest or joints, often accompanied by fever, rash, or headache. Sometimes inflammation may happen in other parts of the body, like the heart, the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and the testicles. Familial Mediterranean fever primarily affects populations originating in the Mediterranean region, particularly people of Armenian, Arab, Turkish or Jewish ancestry. The disorder affects 1 in 200 to 1,000 people in these populations. It is less common in other populations.

Fibromyalgia - Purple Awareness Ribbons
Purple Awareness Ribbons for Fibromyalgia Awareness
Fibromyalgia is a condition associated with widespread chronic pain, fatigue, memory problems and mood changes. Fibromyalgia is not a single disease, but a constellation of symptoms that can be managed. It is not life threatening and does not lead to muscle or joint damage.

Fifth Disease - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Fifth Disease Awareness
Fifth disease, also called Erythema infectiosum, is a mild viral illness that most commonly affects children. It is called fifth disease because it is the fifth of the five viral rash diseases of childhood (the other four being measles, rubella, chicken pox and roseola). A child with the disease may have mild cold or flu-like symptoms followed a few days later by a red rash on the cheeks, torso and limbs. Some children with fifth disease may develop joint pain and swelling, but those symptoms don’t last for long.

Giant Cell Arteritis - Red Awareness Ribbons
Red Awareness Ribbons for Giant Cell Arteritis Awareness
Giant cell arteritis (GCA), or temporal arteritis, is an inflammatory disease affecting the large blood vessels of the scalp, neck and arms. Inflammation causes a narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels, which interrupts blood flow. The disease is commonly associated with polymyalgia rheumatica.

Gout - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Gout Awareness
Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that develops in some people who have high levels of uric acid in the blood. It occurs in about 4 percent of American adults, but is more likely to affect men than women.

Hemochromatosis - Burgundy Awareness Ribbons
Burgundy Awareness Ribbons for Hemochromatosis Awareness
Hereditary hemochromatosis, sometimes called iron overload disease, causes the body to absorb too much iron from foods. Iron is import because it is part of hemoglobin, a molecule in the blood that carries oxygen from the lungs to all tissues of the body. But too much iron can build up in the organs, especially the liver, heart and pancreas. Without treatment, this buildup can lead to life-threatening organ damage.

Infectious Arthritis - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Infectious Arthritis Awareness
Infectious arthritis is a form of arthritis caused by an infection in the joint. It is also called septic arthritis.

Inflammatory Arthritis - Purple and Blue Awareness Ribbons
Purple and Blue Awareness Ribbons for Inflammatory Arthritis
Inflammatory arthritis is a group of diseases characterized by inflammation of the joints and often other tissues. These include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) among others.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Purple Awareness Ribbons
Purple Awareness Ribbons for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Awareness
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) include Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). It involves a chronic inflammation of some part of the digestive tract and sometimes can be associated with inflammatory arthritis. In Crohn's Disease, inflammation is in the lining of the digestive tract affect different areas from the small intestine to large intestine or both. Ulcerative Colitis causes ongoing inflammation and sores in the inner lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum.

Juvenile Arthritis - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Juvenile Arthritis
Juvenile arthritis (JA) is not a disease in itself. Also known as pediatric rheumatic disease, JA is an umbrella term used to describe the many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions or pediatric rheumatic diseases that can develop in children under the age of 16. Juvenile arthritis affects nearly 300,000 children in the United States.

Juvenile Dermatomyositis - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Juvenile Dermatomyositis Awareness
Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is an inflammatory disease that causes muscle weakness and a skin rash on the eyelids and knuckles. It affects an estimated 3,000-5,000 children in the United States. All age and ethnic groups are affected. Most cases occur in children ages 5-10. Roughly 1 in 5 children also has joint symptoms, but they are likely to be mild. Remission is possible, but a minority of children with JDM may have a more chronic disease course.

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Awareness
Nearly 300,000 children, from infants to teenagers, in the U.S. have some form of arthritis. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common type of arthritis in children. The term idiopathic means “of unknown origin.” JIA was previously called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, or JRA. JIA is not contagious.

Juvenile Scleroderma - Teal Awareness Ribbons
Teal Awareness Ribbons for Juvenile Scleroderma Awareness
Scleroderma, which literally means “hard skin,” describes a group of conditions that causes the skin to tighten and harden. There are two basic forms: localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis. Juvenile scleroderma can occur at any age and in any race, but it is more common in girls. It is a rare disease.

Kawasaki Disease - Red or Orange and Red Awareness Ribbons
Red Awareness Ribbons or Orange and Red Awareness Ribbons for Kawasaki Disease Awareness
Kawasaki disease is a rare childhood condition that involves inflammation of the blood vessels, especially the coronary arteries. It is a disease of infants and young children, usually aged 2 years and younger, with boys afflicted more often than girls. Although all racial groups are affected, children of Asian ancestry are more likely to develop the disease.

Lupus - Purple Awareness Ribbons
Purple Awareness Ribbons for Lupus Awareness
Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that affects various parts of the body, including joints, kidneys and other organs, skin, blood and even the brain.

Lupus in Children and Teens - Purple Awareness Ribbons
Purple Awareness Ribbons for Lupus in Children and Teens Awareness
Lupus is an autoimmune disease. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system turns against the body it's designed to protect for unknown reasons. Lupus can affect nearly every organ system in the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs and central nervous system. Most often when people speak of childhood lupus, they are referring to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Lupus is a lot more common in young people than is generally believed. The best estimate is that SLE affects between 5,000 and 10,000 children in the United States. Adolescent girls develop lupus much more frequently than do boys, but in younger children before puberty, girls are affected only a little more frequently than are boys.

Lyme Disease - Lime Green Awareness Ribbons
Lime Green Awareness Ribbons for Lyme Disease Awareness
Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacterium carried by deer ticks. If caught early, it is easily treated with antibiotics. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system, causing a complex debilitating disorder that is more difficult to treat.

Mixed Connective Tissue Disease - Purple and Blue Awareness Ribbons
Purple and Blue Awareness Ribbons for Mixed Connective Tissue Disease Awareness
Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a rare autoimmune disorder featuring signs and symptoms of three different disorders: lupus, scleroderma and polymyositis. An autoimmune disorder is one in which the body’s immune system turns against the body it was designed to protect for unknown reasons.

Myositis (including Polymyositis, Dermatomyositis) - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Myositis, Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis Awareness
Myositis is a term meaning inflammation in the muscles. There are several types of myositis, the most common being polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Polymyositis causes muscle weakness around the middle of the body and affects both sides of the body.

Dermatomyositis causes muscle weakness as well as a skin rash. Juvenile dermatomyositis differs from the adult form because of the coexistence of vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels).

ARTHRITIS AWARENESS RIBBONS | CAUSES – N THRU Z

Osteoarthritis - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Osteoarthritis Awareness
Sometimes called degenerative joint disease or “wear and tear” arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic condition of the joints. It occurs when the cartilage or cushion between joints breaks down leading to pain, stiffness and swelling. pain.

Osteoporosis - White Awareness Ribbons
White Awareness Ribbons for Osteoporosis Awareness
Bones are living tissue made up of calcium and other minerals. When you have osteoporosis, the tissue breaks down faster than it is replaced. This makes bones become thinner (lose mass) and more likely to break (fracture) with pressure or due to a fall.

Pagets Disease of the Bone - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Pagets Disease of the Bone Awareness
Paget’s disease is a chronic disorder in which excessive breakdown and formation of bone causes the bones to become enlarged, misshapen and weakened. The disease usually does not affect the entire skeleton, but just one or a few bones. If the pelvis is affected the disease can cause hip pain.

Palindromic Rheumatism - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Palindromic Rheumatism Awareness
Palindromic rheumatism (PR) is a rare episodic form of inflammatory arthritis, in which the joint pain and swelling come and go. Between attacks, the symptoms disappear and the affected joints go back to normal, with no lasting damage. Half of the people who have palindromic rheumatism eventually develop rheumatoid arthritis, which does cause permanent joint damage. Palindromic rheumatism affects men and women equally, and typically affects people between the ages of 20 and 50.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Awareness
Chrondromalacia patella causes pain and tenderness in front or side of the knee and a grinding sensation in the knee. This condition is also known as patellofemoral pain syndrome or more commonly as “runner’s knee.” It is more common in adolescents and young adults, women and athletes that engage in sports that put a lot of stress on the knee.

Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases - Blue or Purple and Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons or Purple and Blue Awareness Ribbons for Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases Awareness
Pediatric rheumatic diseases, also called juvenile arthritis, is an umbrella term used to describe the many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions that can develop in children ages 16 and younger. Pediatric rheumatic diseases affect nearly 300,000 children in the United States. Although they share many common telltale symptoms, like pain, joint swelling, redness and warmth, they are distinct and each have their own special concerns and symptoms.

Pediatric SLE - Purple Awareness Ribbons
Purple Awareness Ribbons for Pediatric SLE Awareness
Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that affects various parts of the body, including joints, kidneys and other organs, skin, blood and even the brain. Children and teens with SLE may have fatigue, pain or swelling in joints, skin rashes, fevers, hair loss, mouth sores or skin color changes due to the cold (Raynaud's phenomenon). Fatigue is one of the most prominent and life-affecting symptoms. Joint pain, another prominent symptom, is what most commonly initiates the first doctor visit.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica - Purple and Blue or Red Awareness Ribbons
Purple and Blue Awareness Ribbons or Red Awareness Ribbons for Polymyalgia Rheumatica Awareness
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory disorder typically seen in older adults that causes widespread aching, stiffness and flu-like symptoms. It is more common in women than men, and is seen more often in Caucasians than any other race. The average age of onset is 70 years, and it is rarely seen in people younger than 50.

Pseudo-Gout - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Pseudogout Awareness
Pseudo-gout often resembles gout and, like gout, is caused by the formation of crystals in the joints, thus the name. But instead of being composed of uric acid, as true gout crystals are, the crystals in pseudo-gout are composed of a salt called calcium pyrophosophate dihydrate (CPPD). The condition is also called CPPD disease.

Psoriatic Arthritis - Orange and Lavender Awareness Ribbons
Orange and Lavender Awareness Ribbons for Psoriatic Arthritis Awareness
Some people might hear “psoriasis” and think of the skin disease that causes itchy, scaly rashes and crumbling nails. It's true, psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that primarily affects the skin. But about 30 percent of people with psoriasis also develop a form of inflammatory arthritis called psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Like psoriasis, PsA is an autoimmune disease, meaning it occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, in this case the joints and skin.

Raynaud’s Phenomenon - Purple, Red and White Awareness Ribbons
Purple, Red and White Awareness Ribbons for Raynaud's Phenomenon Awareness
Raynaud’s phenomenon is a condition that affects blood flow to the arms and legs. It occurs when the blood vessels that feed the fingers and toes get smaller in reaction to cold or emotional stress. Diverting blood flow away from the hands and feet to keep the body’s core warm is a normal reaction to extreme cold. However, in Raynaud’s phenomenon, the body reduces blood flow to the fingers and toes after relatively minor cold temperature exposures, such as holding a glass of ice water or being in an air-conditioned room. Fingers, toes, hands, feet, lips and the tongue are most commonly affected.

Reactive Arthritis - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Reactive Arthritis Awareness
Reactive arthritis is an inflammatory type of arthritis which affects the joints, and may affect the eyes, skin and urinary tract (bladder, vagina, urethra).

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy - Orange Awareness Ribbons
Orange Awareness Ribbons for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Awareness
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), also called reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS), involves a disturbance in the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is the network of nerves located alongside the spinal cord that controls certain bodily functions, such as opening and closing blood vessels or sweat glands. CRPS causes musculoskeletal pain and skin changes, primarily in the hands and feet.

Reiter's Syndrome - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Reiter's Syndrome Awareness
Reactive arthritis is a type of arthritis that occurs because of an infection. Arthritis is when joints become inflamed and painful. Reactive arthritis is not contagious. It was formerly known as Reiter’s syndrome. It affects men more often than women. It develops most often between ages 20 and 50.

Rheumatic Fever - Red Awareness Ribbons
Red Awareness Ribbons for Rheumatic Fever Awareness
Rheumatic fever is an inflammation in the heart, joints, skin or central nervous system that can occur following inadequately treated strep throat or scarlet fever. These diseases are caused by an infection with group A streptococcus bacteria. Proper treatment of strep can prevent rheumatic fever.

Rheumatism - Blue or Purple and Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons or Purple and Blue Awareness Ribbons for Rheumatism Awareness
The term “rheumatism” was used historically to describe a number of rheumatic conditions. It is no longer used by medical professionals, who stress the importance of obtaining a specific diagnosis in order to get proper treatment.

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Purple and Blue Awareness Ribbons
Purple and Blue Awareness Ribbons for Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system, which normally protects its health by attacking foreign substances like bacteria and viruses, mistakenly attacks the joints.

Scleroderma - Teal Awareness Ribbons
Teal Awareness Ribbons for Scleroderma Awareness
Scleroderma, which means “hard skin,” affects about 300,000 Americans. It is not contagious, infectious or cancerous. Scleroderma refers to two conditions, including localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis.

Sjögren’s Disease - Purple Awareness Ribbons
Purple Awareness Ribbons for Sjögren’s Disease Awareness
In an autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, leading to inflammation in the body. In Sjögren’s syndrome, the infection-fighting cells of the immune system attack the normal cells of glands that produce moisture in the eyes, mouth and other tissues. These are called exocrine glands. This action damages these glands, making them unable to produce moisture.

Spinal Stenosis - Blue or Cream Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons or Cream Awareness Ribbons for Spinal Stenosis Awareness
Spinal stenosis is narrowing of the spinal column due to arthritis that leads to a bony overgrowth of vertebrae and a thickening of ligaments. If a significant overgrowth occurs, the narrowing can press on the nerves in the spine. Because the affected nerves have many functions, the condition may cause diverse problems in the lower body, including back pain, pain or numbness in the legs as well as constipation or urinary incontinence.

Spondyloarthritis - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Spondyloarthritis Awareness
Spondyloarthritis is an umbrella term for inflammatory diseases that involve both the joints and the entheses (the sites where the ligaments and tendons attach to the bones). The most common of these diseases is ankylosing spondylitis.

Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Awareness
Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis causes inflammation in one or more joints and is often accompanied by a high spiking fever (103°F or higher) that lasts at least 2 weeks and a skin rash. Other possible signs include inflammation of the heart or lungs or their outer linings; anemia; or enlarged lymph nodes, liver or spleen. About 10 percent of children with JIA will have the systemic form.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Purple Awareness Ribbons
Purple Awareness Ribbons for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Awareness
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is an autoimmune disease. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system turns against the body it's designed to protect for unknown reasons. Lupus can affect nearly every organ system in the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs and central nervous system. Most often when people speak of childhood lupus, they are referring to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Children and Teens - Purple Awareness Ribbons
Purple Awareness Ribbons for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Children and Teens
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a lot more common in young people than is generally believed. The best estimate is that SLE affects between 5,000 and 10,000 children in the United States. Adolescent girls develop lupus much more frequently than do boys, but in younger children before puberty, girls are affected only a little more frequently than are boys.

Systemic Sclerosis - Teal Awareness Ribbons
Teal Awareness Ribbons for Systemic Sclerosis Awareness
Scleroderma, which means “hard skin,” affects about 300,000 Americans. It is not contagious, infectious or cancerous. Scleroderma refers to two conditions - localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis.

Temporal Arteritis - Red Awareness Ribbons
Red Awareness Ribbons for Temporal Arteritis Awareness
Giant cell arteritis (GCA), or temporal arteritis, is an inflammatory disease affecting the large blood vessels of the scalp, neck and arms. Inflammation causes a narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels, which interrupts blood flow. The disease is commonly associated with polymyalgia rheumatica.

Tendinitis - Blue Awareness Ribbons
Blue Awareness Ribbons for Tendinitis Awareness
Tendinitis is inflammation of a tendon – a thick cord that attaches muscle to bone. Tendons act as pulleys to help muscles move a joint. Tendinitis commonly affects the shoulders, biceps, hands, wrists, thumbs and calves.

Vasculitis - Red Awareness Ribbons
Red Awareness Ribbons for Vasculitis Awareness
Vasculitis is an autoimmune disease in which the body mistakenly sees blood vessels as a foreign invader and attacks them, causing inflammation and leading to a narrowing of the vessels. Vasculitis can occur by itself or can be a feature of a rheumatic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; lupus) or systemic sclerosis. In severe cases, patients can develop organ damage or death. About 100,000 Americans per year are admitted to the hospital because of vasculitis. Vasculitis can affect people of all ages, races and gender.

Wegener’s Granulomatosis - Red Awareness Ribbons
Red Awareness Ribbons for Wegener's Granulomatosis Awareness
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), formerly known as Wegener's granulomatosis, is a rare form of vasculitis. In this disorder, small-sized blood vessels in the nose, sinuses, ears, lungs and kidneys become inflamed and damaged. Other areas may also be affected in some cases. It can also produce a type of inflammatory tissue known as a granuloma that's found around the blood vessels. Granulomas can destroy normal tissue.