According to the Centers for Disease Control and Convention, around one in four adults in the United States have arthritis. As common as arthritis may be, the condition can cause a lot of pain and even limit your daily life. Many people seek arthritis treatment at healthcare clinics because the symptoms become too much to handle. While seeking treatment is definitely recommended if you have arthritis, there are some things you can change in your everyday habits that may also help. Take a look at a few common habits that may cause arthritis symptoms to be more severe.
Lack of Rest and Quality Sleep
One of the worst things an individual with arthritis can do is not get enough downtime. Whether you are spending too many hours being physically active or simply not getting enough sleep at night, this can generate problems. For one, your pain can seem more intense than usual simply because pain thresholds tend to lessen when you are not getting enough rest. Two, lack of sleep can heighten the levels of inflammation in your body, which can worsen arthritis symptoms and discomfort. Unfortunately, this creates a cycle of not being able to sleep well because you are in pain, which can become a long-term issue.
Eating Foods That Cause Inflammation
Did you know there are certain foods that are considered to be "pro-inflammatory?" Pro-inflammatory foods can actually drive up the number of inflammatory markers in your blood. This can naturally mean you have more problems with arthritis symptoms. It is not at all uncommon for some individuals to have to see arthritis treatment or visit a medical provider after a bout of eating a lot of this food because their symptoms have worsened to an excessive degree. A few pro-inflammatory foods to watch for include:
Smoking Cigarettes
Smoking delivers a long list of harmful toxins to the bodily systems, which is bound to lead to negative consequences if you have just about any type of illness or disease. Much like eating the wrong foods can heighten inflammation in the body, smoking can do the same thing. Further, smoking inhibits blood circulation and can detrimentally affect the cartilage between your joints over a period of time. Without substantial cartilage in your joints, this naturally causes more pain and friction that exacerbates arthritis symptoms.
For more information about treating arthritis, contact a doctor.
Share22 February 2023
A couple of years ago, my younger sister became ill. She started experiencing the classic symptoms of the flu. She had a high temperature, a cough, a runny nose, and achy muscles. Because of her hectic work schedule, she didn’t think she had time to visit a local health care clinic. Due to this decision, her illness continued for several weeks. If you’ve been battling seasonal flu symptoms for a couple of days, consider visiting a health care clinic immediately. You will receive the care you need. And, you should recover more quickly and completely. On this blog, you will discover the ways a health care clinic can help you beat the flu.