There are about 1.3 million people that are suffering from arthritis in America right now. While this is a common disease, it is very debilitating. This article will give you some tips on how to cope with arthritis. You can use these tips to gain knowledge about this condition, and learn some new techniques.
You can deal with chronic arthritis through meditation or yoga practice. Studies show that these practices help the body to relax, which can also alleviate painful symptoms. Try to incorporate these types of activities into your routine at least four times a week for best results.
It is important that you quit smoking if you suffer from arthritis. It is a proven medical fact that smoking can make your arthritis symptoms worse. Also, if you smoke and you are taking medications to control your arthritis symptoms, smoking can actually decrease the positive effects of these medications.
In order to prevent joint stiffness, incorporate low-impact exercises into your day-to-day routine. Doing too much exercise can cause arthritis to flare up. However, light-to-moderate low-impact exercise can help to keep your joints from stiffening up, giving you more freedom of movement. Some exercises you can do to stay limber include walking, swimming, or bicycling.
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.
Focus on strength training. People who suffer from arthritis have been shown to increase their flexibility and overall health from performing strength exercises as little as twice a week. Stick with moderate or lighter exercises to get the maximum benefits without causing any undue stress on your joints, which may cause inflammation.
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.
Weight loss can ease the symptoms of arthritis. Excess weight causes pain and inflammation when you have arthritis. If you have some weight to lose, your joints have to support more weight than they can, which can cause flare ups. When you make the effort to lose extra weight, it can reduce the number of flare ups you have, as well as the amount of pain each causes.
Consult with a physician regarding methods for alleviating pain. Many people find that their best bet is to take precautions to avoid causing further damage, and also to find safe treatments for managing pain. You can do this most efficiently by consulting with your physician about treatments that are approved by the FDA and other alternatives that can address your particular needs.
Do not be afraid to consider surgery. Many people who suffer with arthritis will initially balk at the thought of having surgery done to correct an issue. Let your doctor coach you on what may be the best method of treatment for you, and if surgery is an effective option, try not to immediately dismiss it.
To keep your arthritis pain and swelling to a minimum, you should not smoke. It has been shown through studies that non smokers have less inflammation in joints if they suffer from arthritis. If you currently smoke, consider quitting to help improve your symptoms. If you have tried to quit and have failed, speak to your doctor about getting a prescribed medication to help kick the habit.
When dealing with arthritis pain you have to protect your joints. Always be thinking about your joints and your joint health and protect them from injury. So be careful; instead of lifting a heavy object, slide it, or use your shoulder to open a door instead of using your hand.
Many people have found heat and cold treatments to be very good therapy for arthritis. Try using an old pure cotton sock filled with dry rice as an easy, mess-free method of applying either heat or cold. Put it in a plastic bag in the freezer to prepare for cold therapy. Pop it in the microwave briefly to prepare it for heat therapy.
Eat a lot of foods that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. You can find this substance in foods like fish and nuts, or purchase fatty acid capsule supplements. Omega 3 is anti-inflammatory. So it will lubricate the joints and help to ease the arthritis pain.
If you are in the beginning stages of arthritis, it is very important that you take care of your condition the best that you can so you do not end up not being able to use whatever appendages are affected by arthritis. Do what you can while you can before the condition gets out of control
Meditation can be highly effective in coping with arthritis. The brain is an often overlooked tool in dealing with disease or debilitating conditions. Through meditation you can condition your mind to work for you. You can achieve relaxed states in which you create mantras that program your thinking in regards to how you deal with pain and stress.
Snacking is a great way to get the nutrients your body needs to keep active, even if arthritis is trying to hold you back. Think about eating things like seeds, nuts, and fruit to stay healthy. Nutrient-rich, healthy food such as these items will provide you with the necessary boost without flooding your system with salt, sugar and fat.
Do not be uncomfortable about asking for help or finding someone who can help you in times of discomfort just by being there or giving you an ear to listen to. Having a support system of close friends or family will help you take some of the worry and stress out of your daily routine just by being able to talk or have a shoulder to lean on.
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