If you have been diagnosed with arthritis or are close to someone who has, you may not have any idea what steps to take in order to fight the disease.
Stay away from smoking, whether you smoke yourself or not. Nicotine slows blood flow to the extremities which can reduce inflammation short term. In the long-term though, your joints can also suffer longer term damage from a decreased flow of blood.
Don’t change your medicine before checking with your doctor to make sure it’s safe.
Women who are living with arthritis might want to reconsider high heels in the closet. While high heels are very pretty to look at, high heels can cause a great deal of pain and damage to your feet. This can increase torque at the knees and make arthritis symptoms.You can keep you arthritic pain relief by wearing more comfortable shoes. Your body will appreciate the reduced arthritis pain if you treat it well.
There are a number of good resources available for people that are suffering from arthritis, what exercises you should try, pain management and nutrition tips. If you take a little time out of your day to understand arthritis better, you will learn new ways to manage the pain and other symptoms of arthritis.
Smoking has been shown to increase your arthritis symptoms.Quitting smoking is very difficult, but if you suffer from arthritis, it can be easier to stop.
Maintaining a healthy weight will help reduce the stress placed on arthritic joints. Instead of depriving yourself of food by skipping meals, you should eat a healthy, balanced diet that provides your body with the nutrients it needs.
You may have as much energy as you once did. Ignoring your symptoms and pretending that everything is the same as it used to be will cause more pain. Concentrate your energy only on the areas that you feel are most to you. It is not necessary for you to take care of everyone all the time.
Be aware of how much food you eat. Keep tabs on the food that you consume, and mark in any times when your arthritis symptoms flare-up. This will have you discover the foods responsible for the flare-ups.
Do everything possible to get enough sleep.Before going to bed, make sure that your room is totally dark, turn the alarm clock around, turn off the cell phone and utilize relaxation techniques.
Being obese or overweight can cause painful swelling and inflammation if you have arthritis. Being overweight actually causes more pressure on your joints which will result in more flare up excessively. Losing weight may reduce the rates and intensity of flare ups.
Make sure that you have a good giggle on a regular basis. You can keep your mood high and your stress levels down by reading light-hearted books, laughing with your family and friends, or watching a movie that makes you laugh. Laughter is one of the chemicals your brain releases.
Avoid smoking to reduce your arthritis swelling and inflammation associated from arthritis. Studies have revealed that people who do not smoke have a smaller chance of developing arthritis and swelling than smokers. If you regularly smoke or use tobacco products, try to stop to alleviate some of your symptoms. If you have tried to quit and have failed, ask your physician about prescription medications for smoking cessation.
Keep your arthritis under control by exercising and fit.If you have a hard time with weights, try water aerobics. The water massages your muscles and support you throughout the exercise. Water therapy is an excellent way to help manage arthritis.
Fatty Acids
Omega 3 needs to be included in your diet when you have arthritis. You can buy Omega-3 fatty acids in a supplement form or you can just eat foods that contain a good amount of it such as fish, seeds and oily fish or in nutritional supplements. These fatty acids will pad and help to lubricate joints.
While a small injury may cause you to forgo a doctor visit, taking care of them properly may prevent scar tissue formation. Have your doctor perform an x-ray to check for any minor fractures and then splint or wrap your injury properly so that scar tissue will not form.
Hot wax has been known to relieve some people that suffer from arthritis ease their pain. The hot wax works as hot water does, concentrating the warmth on the affected fingers and toes.
Eating frequent snacks between meals is a nutritious way to keep your body the fuel it needs when you have arthritis. Stick with healthy choices such as seeds, fruit, nuts or even organic protein bars. These can provide a boost you without the disadvantages of sodium or sugar.
One way to reduce your arthritis is to focus on building up your muscles. Start slowly with strength training; you use light weights and not exercise for too long at first.
Make yourself a support system of people upon whom you can rely. Dealing with issues arising from arthritis can be very frustrating and sometimes seems impossible. Being able to talk with others about your symptoms and your experience will make you to feel better. There are sites online that will offer you people willing to talk to you.
One way you can deal with arthritis is to know your limits when it comes to pain. Don’t do more than your body can chew. Arthritis causes fatigue and loss of energy, so if you try to do too much, if you are doing too much, and cause flare-ups and extreme amounts of pain.
Don’t simply accept the fact that you have arthritis, and let it diminish your quality of life. Instead, educate yourself about your condition, so you can learn how to manage it and to minimize the impact it has on your life. The information in this article serves as an ideal starting point for you as you consider the different treatment options available to you as you seek to eliminate the pain associated with the condition.
