Due to chronic pain, people with arthritis frequently experience difficulty with daily tasks, such as opening jars. If you identify with those suffering from this disease, you will want to continue reading. There are a list of suggestions and tips to help you cope with arthritis. These tips can help you get your life back to normal.
Even if you do not smoke cigarettes, you should still avoid secondhand smoke whenever possible. If you are a smoker, now is the perfect time to ditch this unhealthy habit. Initially, your inflammation may subside as the nicotine from cigarettes reduces blood flow, yielding a calming sensation. Reduced blood flow could ruin your joints, meaning the arthritis is going to be worse and come quicker, than it would if you didn’t smoke.
Thinking positive thoughts can help you to cope with arthritis pain. It might sound silly, but a strong mind/body connection does exist. If your mind thinks positive, it is difficult for your body to feel negative. Fill your life with happiness and you might just find that your pain quickly diminishes.
If you suffer from arthritis, you may want to consider buying special arthritis gloves. Not only can these gloves keep your hands warm all day and night long, but they can also decrease swelling in your fingers and hands. Arthritis gloves can be purchased at many drug stores or pharmacies.
It is important that you get the flu shot if you suffer from arthritis. Just like with many other chronic illnesses, arthritis symptoms will get much worse if you get the flu and could even land you in the hospital. The flu shot is a simple shot that you only have to get once a year.
Buy products that are specially designed for arthritis sufferers. There is no need to struggle with tasks like opening a jar, buttoning your shirt or turning a doorknob when there are products on the market designed to help you do all of those things. In fact, there are products designed to help arthritis sufferers with just about any task you can think of. Try searching online for arthritis-friendly products or check with any of the leading arthritis organizations for a list of helpful products.
Make sure to educate yourself as much as possible about rheumatoid arthritis, and how it can affect pregnancy and breastfeeding. There’s a lot of different information out there, and being well educated can make all the difference in the world in how you handle your symptoms and flare ups.
Join a group for parents with rheumatoid arthritis to have support from others who have been there and done that. Being able to get advice from someone who has first hand knowledge of the challenges can be a great help in dealing with the issues that you will face. Check online for groups if there aren’t any real life groups in your area.
Get your vision checked regularly. People who suffer from arthritis are much more likely to have issues with their eyes as well. Make sure you take care of yourself by seeing an eye doctor at least yearly, in order to keep track of any developing issues that may occur with your condition.
Get educated about your unique condition. There are over a hundred different types of arthritis, and learning about yours will only help you be able to manage it more effectively. Get a diagnosis from a doctor, and then do your own research to find out what to expect and how to deal with it.
Don’t carry as much. Arthritis of the shoulders is actually very common. It is even more common in women. Carrying around large bags for prolonged periods of time can inflame both your shoulder and neck. Carry a bag which only has items you can’t go out without, and take it off your shoulder as often as possible.
Focus on something else. When you are in pain, your mind is solely interested in that fact. If you can find something to draw your attention away from it, you will likely notice that your pain is actually lessening or possibly even disappearing. A distracting and focused hobby can be a great technique to use for this.
If you’re a chronic arthritis sufferer who experiences problems like those described in the beginning of this article, you know how debilitating your disorder is. We hope you’ve learned something from this article that you can apply to become a happier, healthier person who has an easier time living.