Dealing With Painful Arthritis - What You Need to Know

By Gerry Restrivera

Arthritis is a chronic disease that can torment you for a long time and it is the common cause of disability in elderly people. Arthritis means joint inflammation, it is a condition that affects the joints and the tissues that surround the joints resulting to pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints. Dealing with painful arthritis is not easy because this condition can be really disabling and can leave sufferers unable to move or barely function in their everyday lives due to the limited joint movement that they can do.

People of all ages and even children can develop arthritis but it is most common to older people aged 65 years old and above. Those who are still in their working age often find themselves unable to do their job properly or cannot report for work at all if the arthritis pain and swelling are so severe. Dealing with painful arthritis is not only reducing the quality of your life but it can also affect your job.

Millions of people are suffering from arthritis and looking for ways to get rid of the pain and discomfort brought by this disabling condition. Arthritis can be treated and managed; the following tips can be very helpful in dealing with arthritis.

Consult your doctor. Doctors can diagnose arthritis through your medical history and physical examination. Blood tests may also be performed to know the causes and to evaluate if you have any other medical issues. It is important to be diagnosed and treated as early as possible because early intervention can be very helpful to prevent your condition from getting worse. Medications can slow down the progress of arthritis and reduce inflammation as well as relieve the pain. Physical therapy maybe recommended by your doctor to keep the affected joints in shape and prevent disability. For severe cases, surgery maybe recommend by your doctor. People who have arthritis may also suffer from depression and it is best to talk to your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms of depression to address the problem properly. In dealing with painful arthritis, do not hesitate to seek professional help because early medical intervention can make your condition better.

Weight control. Dealing with painful arthritis is easier if you maintain a healthy weight. Obesity can worsen arthritis because too much weight can put too much pressure or stress on the joints especially on the hips and knees. So to reduce your risk of having arthritis attack; you have to maintain a healthy weight. Cutting calories and fatty foods and eating a healthy diet can help you maintain a healthy weight.

Maintain a physically active life. A sedentary life can only worsen your arthritis and it can be really beneficial for people suffering from arthritis to be physically active. But you have to be careful in choosing the physical activities that you will engage yourself into and prevent further damage to your joints. High impact physical activities like running and jumping must be avoided. Activities like stretching, walking, cycling, swimming and low impact aerobics can help reduce the pain, increase your range of movement and improve your condition but it best to consult your doctor or therapist first to know the exercises or physical activities that are good for arthritis.

Eat the right kind of food. Your diet plays an important role if you are dealing with painful arthritis. Some people with arthritis have food sensitivities so you need to take note if there are foods that make your symptoms get worse and you have to avoid them. It is best to keep a journal of foods that are good and not good for you so that you can plan your diet and at the same time manage your arthritis.

Arthritis can be managed and treated to avoid disability and improve the quality of your life. Natural treatment is an option if you want to treat arthritis naturally. To know how visit Cure Painful Arthritis

To know more about health and beauty natural remedies, visit Health and Beauty Link

Gerry Restrivera writes informative articles on various subjects including Dealing with Painful Arthritis- What You Need to Know. You are allowed to publish this article in its entirety provided that author's name, bio and website links must remain intact and included with every reproduction.

Tips on How to Cure Arthritis Naturally

By Agusta Santoso

Arthritis is an affliction that can be very painful. Many people find themselves at a loss as to how to manage their pain. There are different extremes of the debilitating disease, and you must familiarize yourself with the options and requirements. Consider the following important tips on how to cure arthritis naturally.

You need to be taking a good look at your current diet. What foods are you eating that you really should be avoiding? Some you will notice you should avoid for your overall health and some specifically because of your arthritic condition. Talk to your doctor about what foods you should eat as well. He or she can make some great recommendations for your diet.

Make sure you get what vitamins and supplements you need. When speaking with your doctor concerning your diet, physical condition, and personal needs, sees what vitamins and supplements he or she recommends. There are plenty of supplements you can take to help strengthen your joints and stop inflammation. Also, when it comes to your diet, eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables so you can make sure you get the vitamins and nutrients you need.

The utilization of hot and cold therapy can work wonders when managing your condition and levels of joint pain. Use a heated pad or some heated ointment to put on the area that is causing you pain. After that it's cold therapy, and this helps relieve swelling of the joints and pain as well. If your doctor prescribes medication, you need to be taking it. Even if he or she doesn't, if your condition worsens or things just change, ask about medication to help reduce the amount of inflammation that occurs.

Make sure you're consistently researching arthritis. This is how you're going to stay informed on current trends and new innovations. This is a great way to find out new treatments and medications, as well as new strategies to help you deal with your arthritic pain. You want to be able to manage your condition in the best way possible. As always, make sure you check in with your doctor before you make any drastic changes, but it's a good idea to be looking for yourself too because your doctor won't know everything.

Make sure you're willing to ask for help. You're going to need help from time to time with certain activities and things going on. You don't want to find yourself in pain and incapacitated. Manage your condition well, and ask for help when you need help.

Your arthritis might not be as bad if you lose some weight and make an effort to be more active throughout your day. Your joints might not be strong enough to support your weight, especially if you experience a lot of pain in your knees. Go on a diet and do some abs to lose weight in your midsection. Stop eating at fast food restaurants and drinking sodas. Eat three balanced meals a day, drink plenty of water and avoid snacking. Meet with a nutritionist if you need some help with designing a weight loss program that works for you.

When you experience pain, stop what you are doing and try stretching very gently. Stretching is important before any exercise, but it's especially important when you have arthritis. You don't want to injure yourself, and stretching will help your joints and prevent injuries. Talk to your doctor about what stretches you should be performing though.

Applying a cold or a hot treatment should help too. Take a warm bath or apply a hot towel on the joints that hurt. Wait a few minutes and apply a cold compress or an ice pack on your joints. You can alternate these treatments a few times but do not overdo it. You might also find that taking a warm bath is enough to make the pain go away. You should not hesitate to carry some hot or cold compresses with you when you have to go somewhere.

Rest your body so it can heal itself. Even if you do not want to actually sleep, just allowing your muscles and joints to relax can help. It may be difficult to indulge in inactivity, especially if you have important tasks that need to be done. It is best to at least reduce your activity level, and take breaks to sit or lie down often.

Arthritis requires a full-scale treatment approach in order to be managed effectively, and there are many things you can do to take control. Remember the tips and advice you've read here as you work your way towards a much more comfortable life.