Quality Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis

By Andrew John

Rheumatoid arthritis is a well-known, so far incurable and very annoying disease. While it is not lethal, the fact that it attacks not only joints, but also some internal organs makes it much more dangerous than any other form or arthritis. What is even worse, this arthritis always affect both sides of the body. While normally people may suffer from pain in only a single joint at the time, rheumatoid arthritis cause inflammation in the same joints in the both sides of the body simultaneously. For example, if this arthritis attacks knees, it will cause the inflammation at the both knees at the same time. As the result, most areas of life that are related with movement or physical activities are seriously affected by the disease.

The bad thing is that rheumatoid arthritis is for now incurable. It doesn't mean however, that those who suffer from it can't do anything to improve the quality of their lives. First, there are some prescription-only medications that can reduce the visible symptoms and pain, making one's life much easier. Then, there are also some other ways to improve the quality of life. Sometimes even the smallest changes in one's lifestyle may make the difference.

The first thing you can do is, of course, some physical activity like swimming, jogging or other similar sports such as tennis. Ask your doctor about the specific exercises that could be the most beneficial in your situation. Basically, rheumatoid arthritis is much less dangerous if you keep your muscles and joints in top condition. Do not put too much stress on your joints though - learn how to bend properly, avoid lifting heavy weighs and make sure that your joints do not work too much - you have to keep them moving, though.

Pain is certainly the worst condition related with rheumatoid arthritis. While sometimes taking prescription pills to quell the pain is the only way to get rid of it, usually the best solution is to use heat or cold to reduce pain. The exact effectiveness of heat or cold may be different depending on the individual predispositions, so you have to check what works best. Hot showers can generally bring much needed relief to muscles and soreness, while ice packs work best to reduce pain in the inflamed areas.

The diet may also have a profound effect on rheumatoid arthritis. Omega-3 fatty acids are known to improve the condition of joints and seriously reduce the pain felt by those affected with rheumatoid arthritis. Omega-3 can be found in fish or in food supplements such as Omega Daily. - 17268

About the Author:

The Article Author: Andrew John reports on subjects that are important in helping people help themselves. For additional information on Omega Daily and Rheumatoid Arthritis just click on the links.