Avoid Arthritis With These Simple Activities
There are millions of people who have arthritis, and while it can seem that there’s no rhyme or reason that decides who ultimately has it, the truth is that taking care of your body can reduce your chances to get the disease. Here are some tips to help cut your chances of contracting arthritis in the first place.
1. Get in the habit of using correct posture. This is something that can help you right away, even if you never get arthritis. Standing up straight and putting the proper pressure on different muscle groups can help alleviate the joint pain that comes with arthritis.
If you find yourself lifting large objects, lift with your knees instead of your back. You want to make sure you use your body correctly; if you don’t take care to think about your posture, if you do get arthritis, you will have the added chore of having to do this work as well.
2. Read about arthritis and get screened. This is something that can help you. Discover all you can about the illness, including symptoms, and get screened by your doctor every year at your yearly visit. Early diagnosis can help you, so make sure you find out as much as you can so you will know right away if you are experiencing signs of arthritis.
3. Sleep. Many people forget about sleep when they wake up, but the fact is that sleep is one of the most important functions of the human body. When you sleep, your body burns fat, restores itself and balances itself for the next day. Lack of sleep has been linked to countless adverse health effects, and if you are tired you are more likely to be less concerned about taking care of yourself and more concerned about getting some sleep. Everyone should aim for about seven to eight hours of rest.
4. Eat properly. Your body is fueled by the food you eat, and if you put sludge in your tank, what can you expect! A diet high in omega 3 fatty acids can help joint health, so be sure to eat plenty of cold water fish such as salmon, mackerel and tuna. Make sure you are getting enough calcium and magnesium as well. Certain foods are inflammatory to your system, such as red meat and dairy products, and if you want to avoid arthritis you would be wise to stay away from those. You may take supplements, but before you do so talk to your doctor about any interactions with medications you are already taking.
5. Learn how to cut stress. Stress is also inflammatory to the body, so if you want to avoid arthritis, look for ways to stay stress-free when you can and find ways to deal with the stress you already have.
These are just a few of the steps you can take to stave off arthritis in your later years. Apply these tips to your life and you will find that you feel better and healthier; even if you do contract arthritis later on, you are going to be better able to cope with it.
