Arthritis is no longer a disease that only effects the elderly population. There are many young people today that are suffering from this. Read this article to learn more about arthritis and be knowledgeable about what you can do if you or a loved one are dealing with this.
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.
Place the clipper on your thigh, and use your palm to press the clipper closed. This allows you to not have to use your fingers.
If you find that your arthritis is getting worse and you cannot figure out why, you want to tell your doctors about certain medications that you are taking. Believe it or not, one of the side effects of many common medications is arthritis flare ups, and if this is the case for you, your doctor may have to switch your medication.
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.
You should find ways to eliminate stress and relax to help manage your arthritis. When you are stressed out, your body produces chemicals that make body pain worse and trigger inflammation. Improving your multitasking abilities or doing low-impact exercises may help you to cope.
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.
Developing a solid plan is integral for your arthritis. You never know when your arthritis could flare up, so it is always best to have a plan able to be set in motion to deter any problems. Break up your jobs into sections so that you can rest between them, and have a way to end any activity immediately should the need arise.
Use light exercises and stretching to prevent further joint damage and pain from arthritis. light exercise avoids excess strain on the joints and you will find that it creates more limber and flexible joints that are conditioned for healthier activity. With stretching, you are giving yourself more flexibility for common activities you will encounter without causing pain from inflamed joints.
Always use proper form when you are exercising. Having an improper grip or stance can put massive amounts of stress on your joints, so you should always try to begin exercising at a gym or therapist’s office. These professionals can correct the way you are exercising, and prevent you from causing unnecessary injuries.
When making a new purchase for your home or kitchen, keep your arthritis in mind when you are deciding what to buy. Buy items that are lightweight and that don’t require repetitive movements. Just simply buying an electric can opener can save your hands from a lot of pain and stress.
While cleaning the house is important, it should not be done all at once, without breaks, and without the help of other family members. Different activities performed while cleaning the house are relentless and awkward, producing unneeded stress on the body. While the house must be clean, do it the right way.
Do as much reading and researching as you can to learn about all the new innovations in arthritis therapy, both in the mainstream world of medicine and in a vast variety of alternative therapies. By knowing what’s available to you, you will be able to create the most effective and creative therapy plan to address your arthritis pain needs.
Cognitive behavioral therapy may be an option for you to consider. This will help you change the way you think and act in certain situations. Although this therapy may not act against arthritis symptoms directly, it can dramatically improve how a patient deals with them.
If you have a child that’s suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, get all the physical therapy that you can, and make sure they get the pain relief they need. It is qutie important for children and teens afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis keep active so their joints stay flexible, while making sure to protect their joints from any additional damage or pain.
Make regular entries into an individual arthritis journal. Write down when and where you feel pain, how bad the pain is, and how you are dealing with it. Also be sure to note any alternative medication taken, and any other important bits of information you think would be relevant for the doctor to know. Your doctor will want to know all of these things so that they can work with you to better manage your pain.
If you are a victim of rheumatoid arthritis and its painful flare-ups, get some friends or family together to help you arrange your home, so that things are easier to get to. Also, work on getting everything organized. Small items are hard to pickup, so try to have the things that you use most in easy reach.
Fight back! The pain of Arthritis can literally sap you of your will to move, so battle back with a little heat! Heating pads, heat gels, or even a warm bath can help loosen joints and reduce swelling. Once the pain has lessened – you may have more energy to get up and move again!
You have learned at the beginning of this article that arthritis can affect anyone at any age. It is important that if you are suffering from this that you are aware of everything that is related to it, and what you can do to help make yourself feel better on a day to day basis.
