About half of U.S. adults have at least one chronic health condition, and for many of them, arthritis compounds their daily struggle, a new report finds.

In addition, the number of Americans reporting two more chronic health conditions has risen from 21.8 percent to 25.5 percent since 2001, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

One in six US adults has arthritis and at least one other chronic condition. Put another way, of the 52.5 million Americans with arthritis, 72 percent have at least one other chronic condition.

Of those adults with two or more chronic conditions, 63 percent also have arthritis. High blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer were the other most common conditions, the CDC report said.

Those with arthritis along with another chronic ailment were also more likely to report work disabilities, limitations in social activities, and serious psychological distress than those with chronic problems without the the joint disease, the report said.

The CDC recommended non-drug remedies to reduce the negative impact of arthritis. These would include physical activity, which has been proven to reduce pain and depression, and to improve function. In addition, self-management education programs are also proven to help people learn strategies to manage their arthritis, the report said.