What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that
primary affects the synovial joints. These are the joints that are considered
flexible joints. It is a painful disease and can be a very debilitating
condition if not treated properly and sometimes even when it is treated
properly.
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| 5 Healthy Habits That Fight the Signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis |
Source: HEALTH
AND WELLNESS BLOG INDIA
What are some of the
things that I can do to the fight the signs of RA?
Because RA is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the body
attacks itself, fighting RA symptoms can be very difficult. However, studies
have been done to highlight healthy habits that can help ward off some of the
symptoms associated with RA. These habits maintained over a long period of time
will help them to become part of your lifestyle which is the ultimate goal when
it comes to living with RA.
Listed below are 5
healthy habits you can do to fight the signs of RA:
1.
Have a
positive outlook on life and your disease- RA is not who you are, it is
something that you have. Maintaining the proper philosophy and attitude related
to the disease is important for the treatment
of RA. If you don't believe that it can get better, your body tends to
respond to that and will continue to feel the effects of the pain on a more
regular basis than if you believed. Having a good attitude will also help you
to further seek the proper treatment because you actually believe the symptoms
can be relieved and will do what it takes to find out how.Maintain the proper
diet- Notice that it doesn't say to maintain a healthy diet.
2.
The
proper diet for RA is somewhat different from what a person that is trying
to eat healthy may be. The proper
diet for RA would include a diet rich in fish, vegetables, and healthy
oils, which is also what the Mediterranean diet emphasizes. What you eat is
always important when it comes to managing most disease processes and it's no
different here.
3.
Get
moving- Exercise is
something that we were all put here to do and it's not just for the
"health" of it. Well maybe it is. Exercising not only can take your
mind off of the pain for a while but strength training and conditioning show
positive effects in the person with RA. Exercising and training smart is
beneficial to your health in many different ways so consult with a trainer and
with your physician to find out which exercises can help optimize your dealing with
RA.
4.
Find a
support group- Support groups not only function to help you when you're not
feeling well and when you are, they also pose as a resource to help some of the
ailments you may be experiencing. People with RA are actually living with the
disease and can be a great help to assisting with different types of therapies
that may not have been mentioned to you by a physician.
5.
Don't
smoke- Smoking is
harmful for joints in many different ways and it actually can exacerbate
the disease process which will lead to further pain and decrease the amount of
time that it takes for RA to have an effect on your body. Because RA is an
autoimmune disease, it requires the body to respond positively even when it
wants to respond negatively so smoking takes away some of the body's ability to
do so.
While all of these are helpful hints and habits, it is going
to be important to maintain them over an extended period of time to see their
results. Not all things work for all people but you have to start somewhere to
find out what works best for you. Doing nothing about the disease will not make
it disappear and may even make it worse, so it is important to seek treatment
right away. Consulting with a specialist is always an important part of your
health and should be done. However, doing all that you can do outside of the
office plays just as an important role as well. Having a positive philosophy
regarding the disease will not only help your attitude and further your actions
but it can change your results and ultimately improve your lifestyle.
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| Rheumatoid Arthritis; Symptoms and Treatment |
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