Putting up with the symptoms of arthritis every day can become a challenge. Painful, swollen joints can make it hard to accomplish even the simplest of tasks. The effects of arthritis can be reduced with many easy methods. By following the advice given in this article, you will find some relief from your arthritis pain.
Learn as much as you can about the disease. The more you know about the symptoms and treatments for arthritis, the more of an active role you can play in your treatment plan. It can also help you to feel less alone, to read about what others with the condition are going through and what they’ve been trying.
Do whatever it takes to stay away from cigarette smoke, including quitting if you have this habit. Nicotine can decrease the blood circulation to your arms and legs, which may decrease inflammation temporarily. This reduced blood flow may also cause joint damage, which can make your arthritis more severe than if you didn’t smoke.
Take your time with major clean up tasks if arthritis is a part of your life. Major cleaning tasks, like mopping and changing bed sheets, put a strain on your body. They involve the use, and sometimes over use, of several different muscles and joints. Take a break when you can or better yet, ask for help. You don’t have to do it all in one day.
Arthritis can sometimes cause rashes on the arthritic areas on your body or on your face. If this is the case, you can buy cover up and other make up to hide these rashes. Many arthritis sufferers think that they should stay away from make up, which is not true.
Take a break, but not for too long. When your body feels tired, it is always trying to tell you something. Relaxing both your body and your mind can give you a much needed rest to allow you to be at your best. Try not to relax too much though, as doing so can actually aggravate symptoms.
Use helpful equipment and aids. If they have access to the proper tools, arthritis sufferers can do almost any task. These products enable arthritis sufferers to accomplish day-to-day chores and activities with little to no assistance. Some of these products are shoe horns, zipper pulls, specially designed can openers, pens and knives. A variety of gadgets are available to make the life of arthritis sufferers easier.
Budget your energy wisely. If you know you will have an important task to take care of later in the day, be sure to remind yourself not to get too tired beforehand. Knowing how you are going to expend your energy during the day can help to make sure you get the things most important to you finished.
Have a regular schedule. When your body is out of tune with your mind, flare ups will occur more often. Going to bed and waking up at regular times, as well as having a good morning routine, can help get the two in line with each other and better prepare you for whatever the day holds.
Set goals for yourself. Planning out what you want to do for the day or week ahead can help to motivate you into actually getting it done. You should even speak to your doctor about what you want to accomplish within the next few months or year, in order to work out a plan that will help you do it.
Make sure your doctor is knowledgeable on the subject of arthritis. Some doctors have had extensive training in the field, and know better and more effective treatments than other doctors might. Ask your doctor how much they know about arthritis, and if they would be comfortable recommending you to someone more experienced.
Quitting smoking can serve as a huge benefit to your health, as it will reduce the swelling and irritation from arthritis. Some studies show a relationship between smoking and arthritis. Smokers have more issues with joint swelling and arthritis pain than nonsmokers. If you are a smoker, think about stopping as a means to alleviate your symptoms. Ask your doctor about patches or other methods to help you quit smoking.
Talk to a doctor about hot and cold joint treatments. Both heating pads and ice water soaks and packs help soothe and relieve joints. You can also alternate these two methods for better results, as long as you do not use this on a daily basis.
There are, however, many suggestions that can help to alleviate the problems. The information you read in this article helped by giving you great tips on how you can manage your arthritis, while trying to go about accomplishing things in your daily life. It can be surprising at just how much help they can be.
