Arthritis can be extremely painful. While it is not always possible to prevent it there are certainly some things that you can do to help reduce your chances.
It is important to try to avoid arthritis at all costs because it really can change your life and the things you are able to do. Below are 9 ways to help get you started with prevention.
Reduce Repetitive Strains
If you strain constantly it could certainly increase your chances of getting arthritis. When at all possible change up the way that you do things a little bit to help reduce the constant strain you may be getting at work.
Those who sit at a desk and use the computer for long periods of time are straining their hands and without proper posture may be straining their backs as well.
Make sure you are doing all you can to keep proper posture and support any areas of your body that you are straining regularly.
Exercise Is Important
One of the most important things you can do is exercise. However, you need to make sure that you are not abusing your joints.
If you live a lifestyle that is sedentary then your muscles get weak and your increase your chances of developing arthritis. You don’t have to participate in exercise that is strenuous but it should be regular.
Feed The Joints
You should take in more whole foods and try to avoid packaged and refined foods when possible. This will help to keep your joints in better shape.
Simple diet changes really can make a big difference on the way that your body handles itself. This is important to keep in mind.
Lose Weight
If you are overweight then you should really consider dropping a few pounds. The extra weight really affects the joints and this can lead to pain and certainly arthritis especially in the joints that bear a great deal of weight.
The weight loss should be slow and gradual however so make sure that you are losing the weight the right way.
Supplements
Some of the supplements that can help with delaying or minimizing the symptoms of arthritis are vitamin D, vitamin C, glucosamine, boron, MSM, and chondroitin sulfate.
You will want to look at the dosage that is right for you to make sure you are taking the correct amount. These are supplements that you can buy over the counter and they can really make a great difference.
Water The Joints
70 percent of your cartilage is water and in order to help the joints they need to be well lubricated and able to absorb shocks. If you are dehydrated it can really harm them.
Make sure that you drink a decent amount of water each day and try to cut back on tea, coffee, and soda which are not substitutes.
In fact these beverages may actually keep you from being able to absorb the water that you need to as it acts more like a diuretic
Yoga
To help make your joints more flexible you can try yoga. This helps with flexibility, muscle tone, and the motion range that your joints get as well.
There has been research that has shown that yoga can really help with the mechanical pressure on joints.
Protect Your Joints
You also want to make sure that your protect your joints from injury. This is important because as they get injured and overused it can increase your chance of arthritis.
You can reduce the chance of injury to the joint by making sure that the muscles that are around it are strong.
Eat More Fish
By eating fish that is oily you can really cut your chances of arthritis in half. Adding omega-3’s into your diet on a constant bases really make s a different.
It is recommended to take in more than .21 grams each day. This can be achieved through eating fish when you can and taking a supplement that contains omega-3 when you are not able to do so.
These are 9 of the ways that you can help decrease your chances of getting arthritis. You should know that early diagnosis is the best treatment so if you think you have symptoms of arthritis then it really is best to see a doctor to make sure you are getting the necessary treatment.
Look for signs such as joint pain that is not caused by an injury. Tell your doctor if you notice swelling in your joints or any other problems that last for a long period of time. It is best to start these prevention methods as quickly as possible for the best results.
