Arthritis Pain Management: The Importance of a Healthy Diet
Arthritis affects millions of people around the world. If you feel recurring pain in several of your joint areas, there is a considerable chance that you have arthritis.
Arthritis is characterized by inflammation in the joints, including the upper or lower limbs. There are also cases where it affects the bones of the spine.
It can be hereditary or occur due to old age. Being overweight or getting injured in the joint can also result in arthritis.
People who have arthritis suffer from pain and swelling.
They sometimes even experience stiffness or warmth around the affected joint areas. If left untreated, it can also cause the joints to wear and tear, cause infection, or even develop into gout.
Understanding the symptoms and treatment options
The sad truth about arthritis is that its symptoms are intermittent. Patients also never entirely recover from it. The available treatments nowadays only aim to reduce its effects as well as the damage that it causes to the joints. While there are medications to help alleviate its effects, going to an orthopedic doctor in Provo remains the best option.
The treatment varies from person to person. It depends on the cause of this degenerative disease. If you have gout, for example, the procedure will focus on reducing the uric acid levels in your body.
Defining osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
There are two main varieties of arthritis, namely rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Both of them damage the joint, but in different ways.
Osteoarthritis is the more common type of arthritis. It causes the joint’s cartilage to wear and tear. There are times when it can even cause enough damage to let the bone grind directly to the other bone.
Thus, causing the patient to experience severe pain and restrict their movement. The damage can occur over several years or in a much shorter period due to infection or joint injury.
Rheumatoid arthritis, the lesser common type of arthritis, causes the immune system to attack the lining of the joint capsule. The membrane that encapsulates the joint then becomes swollen and inflamed. Eventually, the disease will destroy both the bone and cartilage within the joint.
Maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise
Aside from proper medication and regular exercise, a proper diet can also help reduce the effects of arthritis. If you are above the healthy weight limit, your extra weight can take a toll on your joints. This can make your arthritis symptoms worse.
One way to shed off the extra pounds is by becoming physically active. Coincidentally, eating healthy foods can also produce the same effects. Experts say that foods containing huge amounts of omega-3 fats can help reduce the inflammation caused by arthritis. Some of these foods are canola, walnuts, and salmon.
Speaking to your doctor about these things can help you make the right lifestyle changes when it comes to your diet. Although it can be difficult at first, knowing these things can help you manage your arthritis so that you can live a healthy life.