Arthritis Awareness Month: Tips for Managing Arthritis

Arthritis is characterized by inflammation of the joints, leading to pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. While there is no cure for arthritis, there are several ways to manage the symptoms and improve your quality of life. Here are some tips to help:

1. Stay Active Exercise can help strengthen the muscles around the affected joints, reduce pain and stiffness, and improve flexibility. Consider low-impact activities such as walking, swimming or stretching.
2. Manage Your Weight Being overweight can put extra strain on your joints, which can exacerbate arthritis symptoms. Maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce pain and inflammation, and improve your overall health.
3. Take Medications as Prescribed There are many medications available to manage arthritis symptoms including pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and disease-modifying drugs. Be sure to take your medications as prescribed by your doctor.
4. Manage Stress Stress can make arthritis symptoms worse, so it's important to manage your stress levels. Try techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga to help reduce stress.
5. Eat a balanced diet Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and nuts can help to reduce inflammation and support overall health.

By following these tips, you can manage your arthritis symptoms and reduce the impact of this chronic condition.

Arthritis Quick Facts

• An estimated 58.5 million US adults have arthritis.
• Arthritis is a leading cause of work disability among US adults.
• An estimated 25.7 million adults are limited in their usual activities because of arthritis.
• Arthritis is common among people with other chronic conditions including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Sources: https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/index.html
https://www.arthritis.org/