If you are living with arthritis, you know that this is a chronic condition that becomes more complicated as the disease progresses. It is a challenge to deal with the daily pain, limitations in your range of motion and fatigue that come along with arthritis. The tips in this article can help you to cope.
Reduce the stress in your daily life. Stress causes your body to release the neurochemical cortisol, while causes inflammation. People with arthritis should know that inflammation is the main cause of the pain and stiffness of arthritis. Reducing stress reduces your body’s production of these chemicals, which relieves your symptoms.
Watch out for co-morbid condition, especially depression. Arthritis and depression can lock you into a feedback loop: you’re tired and in pain, so you can’t do the things you love, which makes you more upset. Being upset then leads to symptom flare-ups. If you think you are depressed, speak with your doctor about a referral to a psychiatrist.
It can be very helpful to treat your arthritis. A technique to prevent of the hands is to use good typing practices. Make sure your hands are parallel to the keyboard, and use a mousepad with a wristrest. By doing this, your hands won’t be strained, and you won’t run the risk of developing problems later on in life.
It is important that you get the flu shot if you suffer from arthritis. Just like with many other chronic illnesses, arthritis symptoms will get much worse if you get the flu and could even land you in the hospital. The flu shot is a simple shot that you only have to get once a year.
In order to help ease some of the pain associated with arthtis in your hands or fingers, you may want to consider using topical creams. Many of these creams helps joints to relax, which helps to ease arthritis pain. Just be sure you consult with your doctor before using these creams.
Create a stretching schedule to increase your flexibility. Flexibility is one of the major issues for those living with arthritis. You can delay or even prevent this by maintaining a routine in which you stretch every muscle. Begin by stretching your feet, slowly moving all the way up to your neck muscles.
Eat plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids to help combat inflammation. Recent studies have shown that Omega-3 fatty acids can help to reduce inflammation for arthritis sufferers. Food sources that are high in Omega-3s include fish, walnuts, and flaxseed. Better yet, try adding cod liver oil to your diet. Not only is it rich in Omega-3s, but it also has been shown to help significantly reduce arthritis pain.
Know what different arthritis symptoms mean. Make sure to diagnose arthritis early so that you can control your symptoms. Talk to a doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms, so that you can be properly diagnosed and develop a treatment plan.
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.
Water is essential. Anytime you feel thirsty, drink water. Beverages like coffee will actually dehydrate you.
Add ginger to your food. Ginger is well known for relieving inflammation and stiffness, so adding a few grams a day to your foods can help you reap the benefits of this healthy plant. Ginger and honey drinks are the best method, as honey also gives some of the same benefits.
Find a rubber mat to place at your stove to help prevent back and leg pain while you are standing and cooking. These buoyancy of these mats help keep pressure off of your legs which will do wonders for keeping your body feeling healthy. Buy one as well for in front of your sink to use when you are washing dishes.
Sleep rests your joints and restores your body’s energy so that you are able to handle pain. If you do not get the proper amount of sleep, then you are not equipped to deal with arthritis. If you feel rather tired throughout the day, take a nap in order to replenish your energy level as well.
Your meal plans should include plenty of healthy fatty acids, such as Omega 3’s. It can be obtained in supplements found in health stores or pharmacies, but don’t underestimate the increased benefits of obtaining it through natural foods such as fish and nuts. Omega 3 reduce inflammations and help your joints stay flexible.
Ask your physician about things you can eat to inhibit inflammation. You could lessen the inflammation in your joints and abolish the pain. A better diet could make such a difference from you. Some patients have successfully replaced medications with a healthy diet.
Arthritis Medications
Ask your doctor WHEN the best time is to take your arthritis medications. Some medicines might be most effective right after you take them, so they would be best to use first thing in the morning. Others might take a few hours before they start working, so you’d want to take those before bed.
Ask your pharmacist if any of the arthritis medications you are taking cause fatigue, and if you would be better off taking them before bed. Many arthritis prescriptions do cause lethargy, so it’s up to you to find out which ones do cause fatigue and make sure you’re taking them at times when they won’t affect your daily activities.
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