Preventing Arthritis

21st of June, 2017

Preventing Arthritis:

Arthritis is the inflammation of joints which causes stiffness, pain and limited range of motion. Arthritis is more likely to inflict people of older ages, from normal wear and tear of the joints. Genetics, excess wear

and tear, injury and the natural aging process can both increase the risk for arthritis. While arthritis can be painful, it is not life threatening. Here are some tips to prevent arthritis from afflicting you:

1. Keeping your weight at a healthy number can definitely reduce the likelihood of arthritis. When the body carries around excess weight, it puts extra stress on the skeletal system, joints, and muscles. keeping excess weight off will reduce stress on your joints and prevent deterioration.

2. Keeping a healthy diet and eating plenty of fish can help you keep your bones healthy. The healthy omega-3 fats in fish, help you keep a strong skeletal system, keep excess weight off and provide your body with much-needed nutrients.

3. Engage in low-impact exercise, which will help strengthen your muscles, keep the excess weight off the bones and joints. The best, low impact exercise is biking, swimming, yoga, pilates, walking.

4. Prevent injury during any activity by wearing the appropriate protective devices, cushioned shoes, and other safety gear. Preventing injury is the best way to diminish the likelihood of arthritis in people of all ages and genders.

5.  Keep your Vitamin D levels high by engaging in outdoor activities with sun exposure. Yes, you can take vitamins to ensure you have proper levels of Vitamin D. However, Vitamin D from the sun cannot be replaced by a pill and is necessary for proper calcium absorption and strong bones.

6. Stay Hydrated by drinking plenty of non-sugary water throughout the day. The cartilage in our joints largely consists of water and drinking water is necessary to replenish it. Not only that, drinking water helps keep off excess weight and helps the body function better overall.

Use these tips daily, check in with your doctor regularly and help prevent arthritis!

Rheumatoid Arthritis

19th of April, 2017

Rheumatoid Arthritis:


Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic disease of the joints and causes inflammation in major joints of the body such as knees, hands and feet. Rheumatoid arthritis is common in older adults and is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body's immune system confuses the healthy tissues for foreign invaders and begins to attack them. The body begins to attack and destroy joints, causing severe pain as well as other symptoms. Some other symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis are tender and stiff joints, aches and pains, fatigue and on occasion fever.

Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Unfortunately, Rheumatoid Arthritis does not have any treatment that would reverse the progress of the disease. However, through physical therapy and medication, the progress can be slowed down significantly.  

Warm compresses and heating pads can be used to decrease pain. Physical therapy is important and can diminish the pain in the joints. A medical professional is likely to prescribe DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs). These type of medication do not reverse arthritis but do slow down the progress. In severe cases, joint replacement surgery may be necessary to help one live a life of mobility. 

There are ways of decreasing the likelihood of developing Rheumatoid Arthritis:

If you feel swelling or inflammation in your joints, immediately see a healthcare professional. The earlier Rheumatoid Arthritis can be detected, the better. Treatment should be started early.

Exercise also helps prevent all types of arthritic diseases. Start exercising young to build better bone density.

Quit smoking and do not over use alcohol. This can be said for any disease though. If you want to decrease your risks, you need to avoid cigarettes and alcohol as much as possible.

Maintain a good diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and avoid junk food as much as possible.