Living with joint diseases such as Rheumatoid arthritis can be hard physically, but it can be challenging mentally as well. The life that you lived before you were diagnosed with RA isn’t the life that you’re able to live today. There are lifestyle tips out there, however, that can help you adjust your habits so that you aren’t hit quite as hard as your otherwise would have been.
Take Care of Yourself Mentally
Taking care of yourself mentally is just as important as taking care of yourself physically when you have any type of joint disease. It’s extremely easy to get depressed when you’re suffering with pain and mobility issues on a daily basis. If you feel yourself becoming severely depressed and you live in Ohio, consider therapy in Cincinnati to help you to cope with the mental health issues associated with your disease.
Eat the Right Way
One of the hardest lifestyle changes for many arthritis sufferers is not being able to eat exactly what they want to eat. You need to change up your diet in order to avoid foods that trigger the inflammation in your joints. There are many choices out there for foods that you can eat and quite a few that you shouldn’t. Fried foods are said to be no-nos as well as they cause flare-ups more often than other foods do.
Get the Sleep You Need
When you have rheumatoid arthritis, then getting the required amount of sleep at night should no longer be a luxury, but a requirement. Your body and mind beed the rest in order to rejuvenate and repair itself, in normal circumstances. It’s even more important when you suffer with RA. However, it can be hard to sleep when joint pain and inflammation work hard to keep you awake. Try to get on a sleep schedule and go to bed and wake up at a certain time, all of the time. In this way, you’re training your body to sleep when you need it to. If you’re having problems getting on a sleep schedule, it’s best to consult with your primary care provider for help and suggestions on how to get a good night’s rest.
Work to Manage the Stress in Your Life
Extreme stress can make your RA worse, so it’s important to learn how to manage it and manage it well. There are many different ways to manage stress out there, from essential oils to meditation, and from gentle exercises to natural remedies. If none of these remedies work for you, it’s time to get in touch with your doctor so that you can try other methods instead. Managing the stress in your life is key to preventing flare-ups and keeping them under control as well.
These are just a few of the top lifestyle tips to help you manage your RA symptoms. If you feel that your symptoms are getting worse and you can’t handle daily life, please contact your doctor as soon as possible for help.
