How to Make a Simple and Comfortable Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis
The world of a person suffering from rheumatoid arthritis is a tad more complicated than that of a healthy person. The impact of chronic and ongoing disease on the patient's life is limiting, to say the least.
Luckily, the condition is one of the easiest to manage and live with despite its impact on relationships, work, and lifestyle. You may never need to worry about attracting unnecessary attention or answering questions about treatments and medications.
If you are living with rheumatoid arthritis, read this article to discover simple but effective ways to accommodate the condition in different facets of life.
You Come First. Always.
One of the things that makes rheumatoid arthritis one of the most difficult conditions to live with is the severity of the symptoms during a flare-up. With proper medication, it is easy to ease the symptoms and still have a great day. But there is something better you can do: take care of yourself.
The first preventive measure that every person living with rheumatoid arthritis should practice is eating the right diet (eliminating nightshades, gluten, and dairy), exercising regularly, and managing stress.
The second is taking medications as prescribed and never skipping doses. Talk to your doctor about any side effects you may feel. And never be afraid to ask how the medications may react with other foods or elements in your diet.
Related: Best Supplements for Arthritis | Prevention is Preferable to Cure
You Are What You Eat
Nutrition goes a long way to make living with rheumatoid arthritis easier. Inflamed joints are one of the identifying symptoms of this condition. This is because the body is constantly trying to repair the inflammation and any other damages on the body tissues, eat nutritious foods to help with the repair processes.
WebMD recommends that a good balanced and healthy diet should include complex carbohydrates, good proteins, and lots of fruits and vegetables. Healthy oils including olive and palm and fish also provide the nutrients that boost body immunity. Your diet should be rich in vitamins and minerals, good proteins, and complex carbs.
An important point to remember to make your life easier when living with rheumatoid arthritis as far as food goes is the importance of limiting saturated fats, cholesterol, and sugar in your diet.
This is particularly important for arthritis patients with weight problems. These foods lead to faster weight gain. The extra pounds exert pressure on the joints, making the symptoms of the condition worse.
Related: Diet and Rheumatoid Arthritis | Anti-Inflammatory Diet Tips
Exercises for Arthritis Patients
Exercise and physical movements are difficult for a person suffering from rheumatoid arthritis because of the joint stiffness and pain that characterize the condition. There are however various alternative exercises that patients can engage in to gain the same benefits of the exercises without exerting unnecessary pressure on the hurting joints and muscles.
Controlled stretching is a good example of a good exercise. You can always use stretching exercises as warm up and cool down workouts in your workout regimen.
Low-impact aerobic exercises are also known to keep the hear strong, therefore improving blood circulation all over the body. Walking, swimming and riding a bike are some of the most preferred workouts for people living with arthritis.
If your therapist recommends strengthening exercises to restore muscles after inflammation, consider using resistance bands for safe and efficient weight training.
Related: When to See a Specialist for Your Symptoms
Maintaining Positive Attitude While Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis
The whole process of creating a life routine that makes it easier to lead a life closest to normal despite being arthritic demands patience and discipline and can be quite stressful. This is why it is just as important for a patient suffering from this condition to find the most effective ways to manage their stress levels and allow their bodies to perform at their best.
It is easy to manage stress really: relax your mind. Meditate. Talk with someone – perhaps a nurse or a therapist. For some people, all it takes to clear the mind is a good night's rest.
Know what works for you and use it to improve the quality of your life. If you need support making your life easier, the internet has good resources to find people like you or to talk to experts online or near you.
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