Arthritis is a very common condition that affects many people. Healthline defines, “Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints. It can affect one joint or multiple joints. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, with different causes and treatment methods.” Arthritis can be different depending on the type, but the commonality all types of arthritis have is inflammation.
The major downside of arthritis is that while it can be treated, it can never be completely cured.
So what exactly is the root cause of this inflammation?
The cause of arthritis can vary depending on several factors, especially since there are so many
different types of arthritis. There is no one specific thing that causes all types of arthritis.
Medical News Today explains possible causes of arthritis could be:
- Injury
- Abnormal metabolism
- Inheritance
- Infections
- Immune stems dysfunction
- Genes
- And more
They state, “Most types of arthritis are linked to a combination of factors, but some have no obvious cause and appear to be unpredictable in their emergence.” Arthritis can be a tricky thing to understand, especially because the conditions can change drastically over time, be that for better or worse.
If arthritis will never completely go away, how can you manage it?
Everyday Health states, “What you do — or don’t do — every day can have a major impact on your joints and the level of arthritis pain you experience.” A big part of managing pain and inflammation from arthritis is to make lifestyle changes. These changes should be made in all areas of health; including mental, physical, and nutritional health.
Doing physical exercise and other physical activities can help to keep your joints moving and inflammation at bay. Doing low-stress activities like walking or swimming will help you to make sure you are not putting too much stress on your joints. When doing physical activities with arthritis, the CDC recommends being S.M.A.R.T.:
- Start low, go slow.
- Modify activity when arthritis symptoms increase, try to stay active.
- Activities should be “joint friendly.”
- Recognize safe places and ways to be active.
- Talk to a health professional or certified exercise specialist.
You probably know that when you are stressed, you feel tenser throughout your body. This is especially true for people with arthritis! Very Well Health states, “Too much stress can increase pain, can make a person prone to illnesses, and can make it more difficult for people with arthritis to cope with the added burdens imposed by their disease.” While you can’t make stress completely disappear, there are things you can do to manage and reduce stress levels. We previously shared unique ways to manage stress that would be great for everyone to try out! You can try
- Changing your alarm sound
- Lighting a candle
- Writing things down
- Washing the dishes
- Correcting your posture
- Going outside
- Serving people around you
- And more!
What you put into your body through food or beverage can majorly impact the inflammation you have from arthritis. With all the food options in the world, there are anti-inflammatory foods and inflammatory foods. Arthritis Foundation teaches, “Although there is no diet cure for arthritis, certain foods have been shown to fight inflammation, strengthen bones and boost the immune system.” They recommend eating foods with omega-3 fatty acids, as well as vitamin and mineral-rich foods like fruits and vegetables. Arthritis-Health recommends avoiding foods like:
- Processed foods
- Refined sugar foods
- Red meat
- Fried foods
- High-fat dairy
- Alcohol
If you have arthritis, you are not only! There are so many people experiencing pain and inflammation from arthritis. Work with your doctor to figure out what could possibly be causing your arthritis. Follow these tips to take care of all areas of your health and start feeling better!