Simple Health Tips for Arthritis

 

If you suffer with osteoarthritis you are forced to live with stiff, painful, swollen joints every day. This form of arthritis often affects the hips, knees and hands. Natural topical pain relief medications can be lifesavers as they help manage inflammation and pain. When these medications are combined with healthy lifestyle choices, it can make living with arthritis more bearable.

 

Get Active

Regular exercise can help your joints stay flexible, increase mobility and reduce pain. Swimming, water aerobics, stationary biking, Pilates and yoga are ideal choices for arthritis sufferers as they are low impact and they don't put a lot of stress on the joints. 

 

Watch Your Weight

When you have arthritis, excess body weight puts extra stress on the joints and makes you lose knee cartilage faster. If you are overweight, scale back on the number of calories you eat and increase the amount of energy you expend. Exercise combined with a diet that consists primarily of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, poultry, fish, beans, nuts and legumes will help you achieve your weight loss goals.

 

Apply Cold and Heat

When your joints are inflamed, putting cold packs on the affected areas can constrict the blood vessels and reduce swelling. To make an ice pack, fill a plastic baggie with ice or use a bag of frozen vegetables. Placing a heating pad or hot water bottle on the joints can soothe pain. If you want all over body relaxation and pain relief, soak in a warm bath.

 

Eat More Fish

Sardines, salmon, cod, herring and other cold-water fish contain omega-3 fatty acids. Studies show that adequate amounts of this substance can tame the inflammation associated with arthritis. If fish is not something you enjoy, walnuts, flaxseeds or fish oil supplements can provide omega-3.

 

Ease Up on Caffeine

Part of managing arthritis is being good to your bones. Overindulging in caffeine can weaken your bones and increase your risk of brittle bone disease. If you have to have your morning caffeine fix, limit your intake to one cup of coffee.

 

Arthritis can certainly take its toll. The lifestyle choices listed above can help ease pain, preserve joints and make living with arthritis a lot easier. For the pain that won't go away, or if new activity causes new aches and pains, try a safe, natural topical pain reliever like Super Blue Stuff OTC from Emu Therapy to reduce your arthritis symptoms and counteract any muscle soreness you may experience. There's no need to let one pain replace the other; knock them both out with a single powerful topical cream.