Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that exhibits constant pain and limits the sufferer from doing a lot of things and everyday activities with ease. Natural remedies and medication can help the patient in keeping their symptoms in check, manage the overall pain, and decrease inflammation faced from the condition. Furthermore, there are many alterations that a person suffering from rheumatoid arthritis can adopt in their lifestyle to help them live better. Therapists say that people who are happier and do not focus on their condition face fewer symptoms and do not attract any other conditions. Following are some ways that can help you managing life with rheumatoid arthritis.
Seek help
In the beginning you might not feel like taking help for your everyday activities, but this is only going to help you. If you try to do them on your own and suppress the pain, then it could worsen your condition. You might want to be independent and active, but some tasks and activities will require help from someone else. However, you must not let this affect your self-esteem. If you live alone, you could get a friend or a close relative to come stay with you and help you out with everyday chores. If you live with your family or a roommate, you can seek some help from them.
Adequate rest
If you are tired after an activity that did not affect you in the past, take rest. It is completely normal to get tired even after doing daily activities when you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis; do not be very harsh on yourself. If you face severe symptoms, you will have to take rest for longer periods or might need multiple 15-minute naps. The goal is to try and find the right balance between the number of activities you need to do and the amount of rest you will require to get through the day. A sensible step would be to space out your activities so that you do not overtire yourself.
Maintain oral health
People that have rheumatoid arthritis have a weak immune system as their own tissues fight with their immune system. This makes them slightly more vulnerable towards diseases. Gum disease is one of the most common conditions among people with rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, it becomes important for you to maintain a high oral hygiene. You do not have to go overboard with oral care, you just need to follow your dental care routine diligently. If you are a smoker, you must quit smoking immediately. Smoking is not good for your oral health as well as your overall health, as it could also increase the amount of plaque in your arteries.
Safeguard the joints
An inflammation in the joints is one of the major parts of rheumatoid arthritis. This inflammation causes extreme pain in the joints and reduces your ability to use them to perform everyday tasks. The best way to go about this is to change the way you perform certain activities, so that you do not exert a lot of pressure on your joints. Heat therapy can help you improve the pain in your joints; soak them in warm water, take warm showers, and sleep under a warm electric blanket. Replace your door knobs with assistive devices to help you move around the house with ease.
