Tips to ease the pain of ARTHRITIS

Tips to ease the pain of ARTHRITIS. Cold temperatures can worsen arthritis, and doctors come up with tips to ease the pain caused by this disease.

Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are pain in the joint that can be swollen. The inflammation can also extend to the skin level, the skin in the respective area being red and hot.

Dr. Mariko Ishimori comes up with tips for arthritis patients. He says that cold temperatures increase sensitivity to pain.

“Our joints function best in temperate weather,” said Cedars-Sinai Division of Rheumatology Acting Director Dr. Mariko Ishimori. “When the weather gets cold, the synovial fluid that acts as the engine oil in our joints becomes more of a muck.”

Pain caused by cold weather

The Arthritis Foundation claims that cold temperatures increase sensitivity to pain, slow blood circulation and cause muscle spasms.

In addition, the joints monitor and adapt to changes in atmospheric pressure.

A drop in barometric pressure can enlarge muscles and tendons, which can strain an already tight joint, Ishimori said in a Cedars Sinai news release. “When the joint cap expands, you can feel it.”

Experts believe there are some basic precautions that arthritis patients can take to prevent cold-related joint pain.

“Our joints work best in temperate weather. When the weather gets colder, the synovial fluid that acts as the engine oil in our joints becomes more of a kind of mud,” says Dr. Mariko Ishimori.

Muscle spasms

The Arthritis Foundation claims that cold temperatures increase sensitivity to pain, slow blood circulation and cause muscle spasms.

In addition, the joints monitor and adapt to changes in atmospheric pressure.

A drop in barometric pressure can enlarge muscles and tendons, which can strain an already tight joint, Ishimori said in a Cedars Sinai news release. “When the joint cap expands, you can feel it.”

Measures to prevent joint pain caused by cold

Experts believe there are some basic precautions that arthritis patients can take to prevent cold-related joint pain.

• Keep warm. Keep warm while sleeping by using hats, gloves, scarves, heating pads and blankets. Hot baths relieve joint stiffness;
• Move around. Exercise relaxes joints, increases energy and releases feel-good hormones. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week, including two strength sessions;
• Lie down. Stretch often, especially before activity. Bend your knees, rotate your wrists and ankles, and extend your fingers and hands;
• Healthy food. A healthy diet reduces inflammation, boosts the immune system and strengthens bones. Consume enough vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids to reduce inflammation;
• Healthy weight. More weight puts pressure on bones, joints and tissues. Weight loss reduces discomfort and stiffness;
• Pay attention. Arthritic joints can affect balance and create persistent discomfort following a fall. Walk slowly and in good shoes.

Individual advice will be different. Ishimori advises people to examine how cold weather affects their joints and then make lifestyle changes to feel better.

“There are many things we can do to ease joint pain and stiffness,” he said. “You don’t have to suffer in silence,” apt medicalxpress.