How to cope up with Arthritis?

Almost everybody with the age of 40 and above suffer from arthritis. Though arthritis has no cure, there are some remedies in easing discomfort caused by this. This was based in the book, "The Home Remedies Handbook".

Osteoarthritis is primarily marked by a breakdown and loss of joint cartilage. Cartilage is the tough tissue that separates the cushions the bones in a joint. As cartilage is worn away and the bones begin to rub against each other, the bones become aggravated. In osteoarthritis, this breakdown of cartilage is accompanied by minimal inflammation, hardening of the bone beneath the cartilage, and bone spurs around the joints.

On the other hand, rheumatoid arthritis is an inevitable aspect of the aging process. The synovial membrane or lining of a joint becomes inflamed, so pain, swelling, heat, and redness occur.

In the case of gout, needle-shaped uric acid crystals collect in the joints, due to a fault in the body's ability to metabolized, or process, purine. These purines are naturally occurring chemical found in certain foods, such as liver, kidney, and anchovies. The disease primarily affects overweight, fairly inactive men over the age of 35.

Lupus, on the other hand, affects many more women than men. It is a condition in which the bodies own immune system attacks healthy cells. The symptoms are wide ranging, from joint pain to mouth sores to persistent fatigue.

There are some techniques to consider that will leave you more active and in control of your life. These are ways in easing stiffness and discomfort:

• Keep moving. Maintain movement in your joints as best as you can.
• Exercise, exercise, exercise. Exercise work best when inflammation has calmed down.
• Give your hands a water workout. Try doing your hand exercises in a sink full of warm water for added ease and comfort.
• Don't overdo it. See how you feel a few hours after you exercise and then again after 24 hours. If your pain has increased considerably during that period of time, then it's time to cut back on the frequency and amount of exercise that you're doing.
• Play in a pool. If you fine even simple movements difficult, heated pool or whirlpool may be the perfect environment for exercise.
• Don't overuse over-the-counter creams. Frequent use of pain-relieving rubs may activate enzymes that can break down the cartilage in the joints.
• Put on the scarf. Not around your neck, but around the elbow or knee joint when it aches.
• Pull on a pair of stretch gloves. The tightness caused by the stretchy kind may, in fact, reduce the swelling that often accompanies arthritis.
• Get electric gloves. The gloves may keep your hands warm and pain-free.
• Try a water bed. The slight motions made by a water bed can help reduce the morning stiffness.
• Try slipping into a sleeping bag. The cocoon-like effect of a sleeping bag traps heat.
• Your weight matters. Being overweight puts more stress on the joints.

There are some ways on how to protect your joints.

• Plan ahead. Prepare a realistic, written schedule of what you would like to accomplish each day. That way, you can carry out your most demanding tasks and activities when you think you’ll have the most energy and enthusiasm.
• Spread the strain. Grasp your goods in the crook of your arm - the way a football player holds the ball as he’s running across the field – and you won’t be tackled by as much pain.
• Avoid holding one position for a long time. Keeping joints locked in the same position for any length of time will just add to your pain and stiffness.
• Use your arm as much as possible. Use your arm in carrying out an activity.
• Take a load off. Sitting down to complete a task will keep your energy level up much longer than if you stand.
• Get long handles doorknobs and faucets. They require a looser, less stressful grip to operate, so you’ll put less strain on your joints.
• Build up the handles on your tools. For a more comfortable grip, tape a layer or two of thin foam rubber, or a foam-rubber hair curler, around the handles of tools like brooms and mops.
• Choose lighter stuff. Lightweight eating and cooking utensils can keep your hands from getting heavy with hurt.
• Use Automatic appliances instead of doing it yourself.
• Do not scrub. Spray pots and pans with nonstick surface. Consider getting a dishwasher too, to save your joints some work.
• Keep your stuff within easy reach.
• A long handled gripper will help you reach stuff placed in high places.
• Do just one major cleaning chore a day.
• Interlocking cloth closures on clothing and shoes can save you the frustration of buttoning and lacing.
• Use the stairway and do it starting on your stronger leg going up and lead with your weaker leg in going down.
• Bend your knees in lifting or reaching something that’s on the ground, and always straighten your back.
• You can put your heavy load in a wagon or in a cart.
• Read with ease. For instance, while reading the newspaper, instead of holding it, you may just lay it on the table.
• When having a shower, a stool can give you a steady place and can ease your way in and out of the tub.
• Sitting, rather than stooping. Over your flower beds or vegetable garden may help reduce the stress on your back and legs.
• Ask for assistance when you need it.