Arthritis or inflammation of joints is one of the most common diseases of older and middle aged people. Living with this disease is really frustrating and disabling. Here are some of the common arthritis home care to help relieve the pains and discomfort brought by this disease:
Avoid inactivity. Stiffness of joints is one of the common symptoms of arthritis and it usually occurs after a long period of inactivity. One arthritis home care is to keep active to avoid stiffness and pains. Simple activities like walking your dog and cleaning the house can help to keep you active.
Balance between rest and exercise. Moderate exercises are beneficial to your arthritis but always remember not to overdo it. It is important to listen to your body and take the necessary rest after any physical activity to avoid putting too much stress and pressure to your joints. A balance between exercise and rest is good to your arthritis.
Mind your weight. One good arthritis home care is to carefully watch your weight. Excess weight means more pressure and stress to your joints especially on the knees. It is so easy to overeat at home, so it is important to put an effort to avoid overeating. Keep an ideal weight and avoid aggravating your arthritis. If you are already overweight, losing weight is beneficial to your joint problems.
Be careful with pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs. A common arthritis home care is over the counter arthritis medicines, but you have to understand that even nonprescription drugs have its side effects. It is best to talk to your doctor especially if you need to take drugs on a regular basis. Your doctor may present other options to avoid being dependent on arthritis drugs.
Practice proper movement. Wrong joint movement could cause injury to your joints or could aggravate your arthritis. Avoiding wrong joint movement is another arthritis home care. For instance, avoid overreaching. Avoid putting too much stress on your joints in reaching hard to reach shelves and racks, as much as possible make shelves and racks reachable. Bend your knees when you need to lift something and it is better to avoid heavy lifting. Ask help from your family members if you cannot lift or carry heavy things.
Get enough calcium in your diet. Keeping your bones healthy and strong is another arthritis home care. It is important to get the necessary calcium that your bones need to be strong. If you cannot get enough calcium from your diet, supplements maybe recommended.