Arthritis can be a difficult thing to handle. You can help yourself not get this debilitating condition, if you begin earlier in life to take preventive measures to lessen the effect it has on your health, by eating right and by moving certain joints certain ways. You sometimes can’t completely prevent it, but you can lessen the effect.
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.
Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight causes stress on the joints especially in the knees and hips. This added stress leads to flare-ups of arthritis. This is in addition to the well-known health dangers of being overweight and the detrimental effects it has on your mood and energy levels. Speak with your doctor about a safe weight loss plan.
Stay away from cigarette smoke, and quit if you do smoke. Nicotine constricts capillaries in your extremities, which can reduce inflammation right now. The reduction of blood flow to the joints may damage your joints in the long run and worsen your arthritis. Therefore, your arthritis will worsen more quickly than it would if you were a non-smoker.
If you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, make sure you’re getting enough omega-3 in your diet. If you’re not, consider taking a supplement like fish oil to help get those levels up. Studies have shown that omega-3 has many anti-inflammatory benefits for those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.
Lose weight to help reduce your arthritis symptoms. Losing even a few pounds has been shown to take pressure off of weight bearing joints and reduce the pain that you suffer with arthritis. It can also help reduce your risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee and can slow the rate in which your arthritis progresses.
Cigarettes can increase the damage done by arthritis. It may be hard to quit smoking, but it can be easier if you know how the habit is making your arthritis worse.
Join a group for parents with rheumatoid arthritis to have support from others who have been there and done that. Being able to get advice from someone who has first hand knowledge of the challenges can be a great help in dealing with the issues that you will face. Check online for groups if there aren’t any real life groups in your area.
Before you can get the proper treatment for arthritis, it is important that you know which type you suffer from! There are treatments, both natural and medical, that may help certain kinds of arthritis while doing nothing for other types. If you are uncertain to which kind you have, ask your doctor.
Arthritis and stress flaring up get social. Having arthritis you might be tempted to stay home don’t get out and get social. You will feel more relaxed and calmer when you are interacting with other people, when you are relaxed and calm your stress levels and arthritis will stop flaring.
Find the best equipment to help you out. If you have the correct tools you can get through any job with arthritis. Special gadgets like shoe horns, knives, zipper pulls and others can help to do the difficult daily tasks when suffering from arthritis. Investing in these devices can really help you to maintain your independence longer, and simplify living with arthritis.
Talk to your doctor and make sure you get the treatment you need right away. Starting treatment early will help to minimize any future damage to your joints. The most beneficial way to start treatment is to get advice from a doctor early so you can start the treatment when a diagnosis is reached.
Build a strong support group of family and friend. This will help them help you better all around. If they do not know that you are feeling pain or stiffness, they cannot make the allowances you may need.
Stay active by taking a walk every evening for 20 minutes. You aren’t trying to speed walk or run a marathon, you just need to keep your body in the habit of moving regularly and working out any stiffness in your joints. Regular walks will go a long way towards tempering your arthritis symptoms.
Try eating foods that have omega-three acids which can fight inflammation. Salmon and other fish can be high in these acids and is a natural way to fight inflammation. Inflammation is the greatest cause of pain from arthritis and when your body has natural substances to use such as omega-three, it can work against the inflammation while you are eating nutritiously.
If you find yourself with arthritis, there are still many options to help you. Taking preventative measures may not be the only way to get rid of arthritis, but it sure will help in the long run. A doctor will be able to help you if you find yourself in a bind with arthritis.
