Do you need new ways to cope with the pain of your arthritis? This article will strive to show you the numerous ways you can improve your life and make it much easier to function with arthritis. Keep reading to learn some helpful arthritis tips.
Avoid cigarette smoke, and if you smoke, quit. The nicotine from cigarettes reduces the blood flow to your extremities which can provide temporary relief. However, the reduced blood flow can also damage your joints, meaning that your arthritis will be more severe, more quickly, than if you did not smoke.
If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, keep an arthritis journal. It may help to keep a notebook to record your diet and symptoms to see if certain foods may be responsible for your flare ups. Additionally, it will give you an idea of what helps too. Tell your doctor about the patterns of pain and relief that you’ve identified in your journal. It can be a very useful tool to anyone battling arthritis.
You can gain better control over arthritis by looking for ways to relax, as well as eliminating excess stress. When you are stressed out, your body produces chemicals that make body pain worse and trigger inflammation. Consider scheduling your days out to avoid stressful situations, or engaging in exercise to help relax and strengthen your body.
Be careful not to deprive your body of the sleep it needs to rejuvenate, if you have arthritis. Lack of sleep makes it impossible for the body to fight painful arthritis effects. Make sure you get eight hours every night, perhaps more. The benefits your body will enjoy from proper sleep are tremendous.
If all the arthritis treatments that you’ve tried have failed, you should talk to your doctor about joint surgery. Surgery to decrease the severity of arthritis symptoms may give you back some flexibility and maneuverability, as well as finally offering some relief from the excruciating pain.
Find something that you like to do to better manage your arthritis symptoms. Stress causes the body to release certain chemicals that cause inflammation and increased sensitivity to pain. These exacerbate arthritis symptoms. A good way to reduce stress is regular exercise. You also may try managing your time more efficiently or eliminating avoidable stressful situations.
Hopefully, you’ve learned a valuable tip or two that you can use to fight the discomfort or pain caused by your arthritis. Remember, these are only a few of the many pieces of advice that are out there and if nothing here helps, don’t give up your search! Eventually, you’ll find something that works for you.