Ways to Manage Arthritis
Arthritis is becoming more common by the day. It is not necessary that it only affects the elderly; it may affect people of any age group. Thus, taking care of your joints early in life may help you avoid a variety of problems that could arise as you age, problems that could have a significant effect on your mobility as well as your general wellbeing. Since there is no such cure for arthritis all you can do is change your lifestyle habits to prevent it from getting worse, which is possible with living home care and a few self-management tips, that are as follows:
1) Drink Water Instead of Sodas and Energy Drinks:
Staying hydrated will help you ease the pain in your joint. Thus, try to exclude sodas and energy drinks from your diet, or at least limit the intake of it. Sodas have excess sugar which is very harmful to your bones and will also add up your weight which is what we need to avoid in order to stay healthy.
According to health workers, Cartilage is the flexible, connective tissue that cushions your joints, 80% of which are made up of water. Thus, if you don’t take in enough water then your body will eventually try to extract water from cartilage and other places, placing pressure on your joints. So you need to track your daily water intake. Especially in hot weather and while doing exercise, drink as much water as you can. Doing this will not only help you ease the pain but will also benefit you in many other ways, like healthy skin, good hair, and the overall health of your body.
2) Don’t Stress your Joints with Extra Weight:
One of the most well-known and significant risk factors for arthritis is being overweight.
You reduce tension on your joints by lowering their workload when you lose weight, as a result, you will also experience a decrease in the intensity of the pain caused by arthritis. Thus a stable, well-balanced diet is the only key to maintain overall health, there is no specified diet that can cure arthritis. Just living a healthy lifestyle will do a lot because excess body weight places additional strain on your joints, particularly load-bearing joints like your hips, knees, and ankles. Your joints will wear out faster if you put too much pressure on them.
It would be effective if you try adding fiber to your diet every day. Besides, consume higher fat grains, vegetables, and fruits while minimizing refined carbohydrates and saturated fat in your daily intake. Keep in mind that minor changes are often easier to keep up with than large ones. So, for the time being, concentrate on small measures to prevent arthritis pain.
3) Include Physical Activity in your Daily Routine:
Stay active because keeping your joints working is very important. As a machine’s efficiency lies in its processing time, the same is the case with your joints, they’ll work well till they are in action but once you take a long break from work, it will get harder for you to get back on the track. Thus, a little workout is always beneficial, even if you don’t have any disease, to stay healthy you need to add exercise to your daily routine. However, if you are new to exercise it’s better to get a healthy home care worker to assist you to do it in the right way because putting pressure on wrong points causes pain in any other body part.
Concentrate on healthy activities such as walking, swimming, yoga, etc, and workouts, but be aware of your physical limitations. Keep in mind that excess of everything is harmful. Whatever workout program you opt for, you should adopt it slowly and gradually because overdoing it early on will increase the possibility to get yourself injured. However, before starting any new exercise routine, get clearance from your doctor so that he can inform you about any special measures you should take.
4) Warmup and Cooldown are necessary while you Exercise:
Starting your workout without warming up can be problematic because missing your warm-up exposes your joints to further pressure and overload. According to health care professionals, warm-up and cool-down exercises should at least be five minutes for better performance. Warming up means, using the same muscles as you would during exercise, but at a slower speed. It becomes even more necessary as you get older, as your joints become less flexible.
5) Stay in touch with a Doctor:
It’s important to obtain a correct diagnosis as soon as possible so that you can begin treatment and work to reduce symptoms and avoid it from worsening. Thus, staying in touch with your doctor is very essential.
You can do your part by visiting your doctor regularly and implementing your prescribed treatment plan as it will help you take control of your arthritis. However, if you already have other chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease then this should be taken seriously. If your children are busy at work and can’t take you to the doctor, no worries because amazing grace home care providers will accompany and drive you to your doctor with full care and safety, making sure you don’t miss your appointment.
6) Shield your Joints:
To avoid the agony of arthritis, look into aids, equipment, and devices that can protect your joints. You will be able to complete your daily activities much more effectively and quickly with their assistance, without adding stress on your joints. Walking aids such as a walker can assist you in walking more comfortably because your weight is distributed while you use it, putting less pressure on your knees and resulting in less discomfort.
7) Find Ways to Cope with Discomfort:
You can treat pain in a variety of ways, and various techniques can work in different circumstances. Heat packs, for instance, can alleviate muscle pain, cold packs could relieve inflammation, and a gentle exercise can reduce muscle tension. Experiment with various strategies before you find what works best for you. However, if your pain becomes unbearable, ask your doctor right away and he’ll provide you a pain killer.
Besides, reducing stress and improving your mood might also help you maintain your health. Try being social, communicating with others, sharing your problems and good times with friends and family. Because good mood means good health.
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