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.
Always consult your physician before you make any changes to the medicine you take or how often you take it. Some prescriptions have to build up in your system in order to be effective while others have consequences for stopping them suddenly.
Arthritis is becoming more and more common! If you notice that you have pain, swelling, or stiffness around your joints, it is important that you see your doctor right away! This could be a sign of arthritis, and if that is the case, you want treatment to begin as soon as possible. Make sure, you also, ask your doctor what kind of arthritis it is. This will be helpful when getting the proper treatment!
Make sure you don’t smoke. Smoking has been shown to increase your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Not only that, but if you do develop it, smoking has been shown to worsen the joint damage. Patients who smoke most often have much more severe symptoms than those patients who don’t smoke.
If you are planning to build a new house but have arthritis, you should ask your builder for some modifications help. You can actually sit face-to-face with your builder to go over a list. If you make these modifications, you can rid yourself of some of the pain to make your life easier.
Buy products that are specially designed for arthritis sufferers. There is no need to struggle with tasks like opening a jar, buttoning your shirt or turning a doorknob when there are products on the market designed to help you do all of those things. In fact, there are products designed to help arthritis sufferers with just about any task you can think of. Try searching online for arthritis-friendly products or check with any of the leading arthritis organizations for a list of helpful products.
Keep in touch with your doctor about different options for treating your arthritis symptoms. There are almost always new options coming on the scene for treating arthritis. From new drugs to new physical therapies, stay on top of these advances by making sure your doctor knows that you are interested in learning more and trying new options.
If you suffer from arthritis, both emotionally and physically, consider therapy. Some people that have arthritis have a hard time doing things on their own; therapy can be very beneficial, and show that you’re not alone. People with arthritis are also at risk for developing depression and anxiety, and individual or group therapy can help you to deal with any concerns you may have.
In order to have the energy you need to cope with your arthritis symptoms, it is important to get plenty of sleep. Dealing with the pain and inflammation of arthritis can take a toll on your body and leave you feeling fatigued. The best way to keep your energy up is by making sure you are getting enough sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, try eliminating caffeine or talk to your doctor about medications that may help.
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.
Have a regular eating schedule. Test your body to find out what eating pattern works best for you, and set up a distinct schedule around those times. If you find yourself hungry at a time when you are not scheduled to eat, have a light nutritious snack to keep yourself energetic and on schedule.
Learn good posture. The better your stance, the less stress you put on your joints. Ask your doctor for tips on gaining the best posture you can, and work on it daily as a routine. Once you develop good posture, you will feel less pain in your back and knees, as well as your feet and neck.
Maintain a journal. By keeping track of daily pain levels and events, you may discover patterns that will reveal how certain events will trigger flare-ups. By writing down what you’ve eaten, the activities you’ve engaged in, and the degree of pain you experience, you’ll be able to identify pain triggers.
When you are diagnosed with arthritis, your doctor will give you a treatment plan which will incorporate many different things, including diet and exercise. It is important to familiarize yourself with this plan and implement it daily. As you do, there will be things you will add to the plan or things that will change according to what your body needs.
Do not use your hands if you don’t have to. Even if they are not currently bothering you, protect them as much as possible; if you can open a door by pushing it with you shoulder, do so. This will help lessen the amount of pain that you feel in your joints and allow you to lead a more regular life.
When you are thinking about looking into herbal treatments to help you treat your arthritis symptoms, keep in mind that herbal remedies are not regulated by the FDA. You should always seek the advice of your physician and/or a skilled and experienced herbalist when considering the use of herbal remedies.
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.
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.
