Arthritis is a medical condition that causes inflammation and pain in the joints. It only worsens over time, like dementia or Alzheimers. Such conditions are called degenerative conditions. Arthritis requires the affected individual to take rest and not take up demanding activities. It can be a challenging problem to deal with, and it is almost inevitable for many individuals as they approach old age.
Thus, you will definitely require a helping hand for household chores if you develop arthritis. TruBlue of Centennial provides services that include doing your household chores. You can get in touch with them and save yourself from straining your joints. Straining your joints can lead to more damage, increasing the dependency on others. There are majorly two types of arthritis – Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Osteoarthritis involves the wearing down of cartilage. The weakening of cartilage leads to the rubbing of bones together. This friction keeps increasing as the cartilage starts to wither. The consequence of this friction can be severe pain and inflammation in the joints.
RA is a systemic condition that affects the whole body. Its effects are not limited to a specific area like Osteoarthritis.
Unlike OA, RA is an autoimmune disease. In simpler terms, this condition arises when the immune system identifies healthy joint tissues as threats and mistakenly attacks them.
4 Steps to Help Manage Arthritis:
If you develop arthritis of any kind, you don’t have to panic. Very few people end up becoming dependent on others due to the severity of their condition. A majority of those who suffer from this condition can manage it and get by easily. Here are 4 steps to help manage arthritis:
1: Get Your Weight in Control
Arthritis is a medical condition that affects your joints. These joints support your body weight. Thus, it only makes sense to get your weight in control, so you don’t end up putting a lot of pressure on your joints. If you have OA in your legs or hips, it becomes even more important to lose some extra pounds.
Visit a dietician and a physician to draw up a plan that can help you lose weight. Make sure that you get enough exercise and keep your joints active. Obesity and passiveness coupled together can be your worst enemies if you have arthritis. Losing weight can significantly help you lessen the pain, increase mobility, and prevent the condition from worsening.
2: Meditation
Even if you don’t have arthritis, meditation is one activity that can greatly benefit you physically, mentally, and spiritually. It’s one of the most underrated practices in a healthy lifestyle. Meditation can make you more perceptive, resilient, and healthy.
Severe joint pain is an inevitable symptom of arthritis. Many people opt for pain killers, but they can greatly damage your liver. Thus, you should avoid prescribed pain killers and do your health a favor by meditating.
Regular meditation can help you deal with the pain that comes with arthritis. It will lower the overall stress in your life and even help you develop a perspective. After all, the pain might be physical, but it is perceived in mind. For those who suffer from RA, a study by NIH suggests that meditation can be beneficial.
3: Healthy Diet
Regular exercise to keep your joints healthy and lose weight will only work if you adopt a healthy diet. It’s recommended that you include fresh fruits, green veggies, and calcium in your diet. Calcium becomes very important for those with arthritis as it strengthens the bones. A green diet can also help you reduce pain.
Veggies contain antioxidants that can reduce inflammation. A healthy and balanced diet can also improve your immune system. Try to avoid food that is fatty and high in cholesterol. The whole purpose of your diet should be to reduce as much weight as possible while getting all the required nutrients.
4: Don’t Hesitate to Ask for Help
Those who suffer from arthritis are especially worried about dependency issues. This usually occurs if the person in question is too old or their condition worsens over time due to a lack of care. You can easily avoid this if you follow the tips that we have listed above. However, you should not be afraid to ask for help.
It’s best that you ask for help or hire help to get your household chores and day-to-day activities done. You shouldn’t put too much stress on your joints, and taking up regular household chores can worsen your condition. In order to avoid long-term damage and increase the severity of your condition, you have to reduce the amount of work you do on a day-to-day basis.
