Keep Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain at Bay
Rheumatoid arthritis pain can flare up at any time. For example, if the weather is rainy, your joints may become more painful and stiff. Fortunately, there are things you can do in any situation or weather forecast to overcome the main causes of increased arthritis pain.
Unpredictable Temperatures
One major cause of increased arthritis symptoms is colder weather. When your joints are exposed to chilly temperatures, the tendons constrict and blood flow is restricted as your body tries to keep your major organs warm. These effects are on top of the increased barometric pressure caused by the weather, which may also have an adverse effect on your symptoms.
To help overcome the pain caused by cold joints, take steps to keep them warm. If the weather will be chillier than normal, dress in layers. If you’re planning to be on a boat this summer with potentially breezy winds, make sure you have a warm towel or sweatshirt to put on.
At home, use heat therapy to warm your joints back up if you’re feeling cold. The heat will also increase blood flow to your extremities to help reduce swelling and stiffness.
Decreased Activity Leads to Increased Pain
If you don’t often have regular physical activity, you will likely notice more instances of pain. This immobility increases the stiffness, thereby increasing your This can be a bit of a vicious cycle, because when you are in pain, you are less likely to get exercise.
Even if you do not want to venture outdoors, you can still find ways to keep yourself active and your joints moving. And, while a gym membership or full-on exercise program would be ideal, you do not have to go all-out to keep moving.
One thing you can do is to try to at least perform a few light stretches a couple of times a day. You can stretch out your muscles and joints in the morning, before bed, and even during commercials while watching television.
Along with stretches, you can also find activities to perform around your house. For example, commit to doing housework chores, such as vacuuming and dusting, once a day to keep your body moving.