Over 50 million Americans 18 and older have been diagnosed with Arthritis by a doctor. That’s 1 in 5 adults. You already know how painful and debilitating arthritis can be in it’s worst forms, but during the winter it is even worse. The cold and rainy climate often increases pain. Fortunately, we have a few tips you can use to help you manage your symptoms.
- Dress Warmly: This is one of the best things you can do to manage symptoms. Always have gloves and a winter hat on hand. We also recommend dressing in layers, so if you begin to get hot you can take something off and vice versa.
- Lose Weight: A recent study published by The Journal of the American Medical Association showed that people suffering from arthritis could expect pain relief if they lost weight. We know it’s hard to lose weight when you have pain keeping you’re from being active, but a healthy diet can be even more effective than exercise.
- Exercise Inside: Numerous studies have found that being active can reduce joint pain, but during the winter it’s best to keep active inside if you have arthritics. The warm weather inside will lessen the pain, and they gym you join likely has workout machines and trainers that can help with your condition.
- Keep Hydrated: Staying hydrated is important for everyone, especially active people. There is also research to suggest that even just mild dehydration can make someone more susceptible to pain.
- Embrace warm water: Swimming in a heated pool helps relieve pain in your joints while also providing a solid workout. Hot tubs can also work wonders on your joints.
Overall, these are just a few tips to get you through the winter season. Dealing with arthritis is difficult but the symptoms can be managed and improved upon.