6 TIPS FOR MANAGING ARTHRITIS
It is a medical condition that often develops as a natural part of the aging process. More than 40 million Americans live with some form of arthritis, which is an inflammatory medical condition that negatively impacts the bones and joints. Pain, swelling, and stiffness that develop can dramatically diminish the quality of your life. At our retirement community in Idaho Falls, our team of caregivers helps residents manage the symptoms of arthritis.
If you live with an arthritic condition, read about the following six tips to manage the disease for achieving a higher quality of life.
Achieve a Healthy Weight
Carrying excess weight places too much stress on the parts of the body where you suffer from painful arthritis symptoms. Losing weight alleviates the pressure placed on the vulnerable parts of your body, which in turn helps decrease the amount of pain that you feel. The most effective ways to lose weight include following the right diet and exercising on a regular basis.
Follow an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Several food sources can lower the pain caused by inflammation of the bones and joints. Food sources such as nuts, beans, fish, fruits, and vegetables contain the enzymes that help reduce inflammation. At our senior living center in Idaho Falls, we incorporate these food sources into the daily menus created for residents.
Exercise Regularly
Low-impact exercises that you perform regularly keep the joints working to prevent stiffness and swelling. You should follow a regular exercise routine that does not overwork bones and joints, such as walking, swimming, and cycling. Stretching before each workout ensures your joints move through the full range of motion.
Use Assistive Devices
Living with arthritis does not mean you have to live a sedentary lifestyle. Using an assistive device like a cane or walker makes it much easier to walk, without increasing the amount of pain that you feel. Even a shoe insert can alleviate the pain felt in both feet and ankles. You should never feel embarrassed because an assistive device improves the quality of your life.
Take Breaks
Although staying active represents an effective strategy for managing arthritis symptoms, make sure you pay attention to how your body responds to a more active lifestyle. Take a break whenever your body feels like it needs rest to rejuvenate before the next activity. After a low-impact workout, rest for around 20 minutes while applying a heating pad over the areas of the body where you feel pain.
Make the Right Lifestyle Choices
Two lifestyle choices lead to an increase in arthritis pain: Smoking and drinking alcohol. Smoking cigarettes releases toxins in the body that exacerbate arthritis pain. This lifestyle choice also increases the risk of complications if you need surgery to address pain. Drinking alcohol compromises the immune system, which can trigger higher levels of arthritic pain.
Follow Tips That Work for You
At our retirement community in Idaho Falls, our caregivers understand that residents have unique healthcare needs to manage a disease such as arthritis. This is why we encourage residents to be patient when searching for the right tips to manage arthritis pain. The mission “to honor, to value, to invest” makes our assisted living facility in Idaho Falls the premier place for seniors to call home. Discover more about the healthcare services provided by MorningStar at Observatory Park by scheduling a tour today.