Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory and autoimmune disease. This means that your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body, which results in painful swelling. RA primarily attacks the joints, and in most cases, multiple joints at once. If you live with this disease, managing your symptoms with arthritis products is key to living a healthy and fulfilled life. With that in mind, here are some useful tips that can help you control RA.
Lose Weight
Fat cells release proteins that cause inflammation. The more weight you carry, the worse your joint pain will be. Also, any medicine you are taking may not be as effective if you’re considered overweight or obese. If you are living with RA, losing weight can make a startling difference, and help you lead a better quality of life, free from pain and discomfort.
Exercise Daily
To lose weight, you’ll need to factor regular exercise into your routine. There are invaluable benefits of physical activity, especially for those living with RA. In fact, keeping active helps in reducing inflammation, strengthening your bones, and relieving pain. Once you get into the habit of exercising daily, you should notice an improvement in RA symptoms. Make sure you find an activity that works right for you, otherwise, you may lose momentum and not continue. Try not to exercise too much at once, as this may worsen RA symptoms.
Get More Sleep
A bad night’s sleep and RA tend to go hand-in-hand. If you’re in pain and discomfort when hitting the hay, this can make it difficult to fall and stay asleep. When you wake up, you won’t feel well-rested, which will impact your day. To aid sleep and relieve pain, ensure you’re taking any medicines as directed, and avoid caffeine after the morning. You can also try limiting screen time before sleep. If these tips don’t help and you’re in constant pain, try and use pillows to support the areas of your body affected.
Consider Physical Therapy
If you have moderate or advanced RA, physical therapy can help in improving your flexibility and strength. Whether you’re cleaning, gardening, or running around after the kids, knee pain is commonly associated with RA, which is where physical therapy can help. Kneecare Clinics has a guide on how to avoid knee pain when kneeling, but you can also try treatments like physical therapy and knee braces to help in easing your RA symptoms.
Get Regular Massages
Research suggests that regular massages can be beneficial for some people living with RA. This is because massage can help in reducing pain and improving function. What’s more, regular massages can improve your range of motion, grip strength, and general joint function. Other benefits you can gain from massage include reducing stress, improving circulation, lowering blood pressure, and an increase in energy.
Over 1.3 million adults in the United States live with rheumatoid arthritis. While the disease affects each individual differently, there are many tips you can take on board that can relieve pain and discomfort commonly associated with RA.
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