Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. The discomfort from arthritis could render simple routine activities, like standing, walking, or jogging nearly impossible. Arthritis can also affect your general performance, whether on the field, at work, or school.
While aging and genetics influence your likelihood of developing East Village arthritis, your lifestyle also plays a role. For this reason, there are things you can do to avoid your risk of arthritis. Continue reading to discover the best ways to prevent arthritis.
Maintain A Healthy Weight
Excess weight is heavily linked with arthritis. The extra weight causes additional strain on the joints, especially the hips, spine, and knees. With time, this stress could cause damage to the structural integrity of your joint, causing arthritis.
There are numerous lifestyle adjustments you can adopt to maintain a healthy weight. For instance, adhere to a stringent exercise routine, including strength exercises, stretches, flexibility exercises, and more. You should also stick to a healthy diet plan.
Stick To An Anti-Inflammatory Diet
An anti-inflammatory diet helps you reduce inflammation, which is also associated with arthritis. However, this diet plan can also help you maintain a healthy weight. There are numerous ways to approach an anti-inflammatory diet and varying levels of dietary restrictions.
For instance, consume more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, such as barley, corn, rice, and more. You should also eat more lean proteins and avoid consuming processed foods like sugar, snacking, and fast food. If you need help creating a healthy anti-inflammatory diet, consult a dietitian.
Reduce Repetitive Tasks
Some sports, jobs, and activities, such as tennis, factory work, and typing, cause repetitive strain on certain joints. These repeated motions are likely to cause a repetitive motion injury. However, if you are predisposed to arthritis, these activities can cause the wearing down of the cartilage in your joint.
Evaluate your sports, job responsibilities, and activities for repetitive movements that can cause injury and pain. Take frequent breaks in your everyday life to give your joints some rest. If you participate in sports such as tennis that can cause strain on certain joints, ensure you perform stretches and other warm-up exercises to avoid injury.
Replace High-Impact Sports with Low-Impact Activities
Some individuals feel like they are having a workout only if they are struggling to catch a breath. However, the truth is that low-impact activities and exercise can also offer a great workout. Besides, these low-impact activities do not damage joint cartilage.
Common high-impact sports such as basketball, football, and running are the most notorious for causing wear and tear on joint cartilage. On the other hand, low-impact exercises, such as yoga, strength training, and swimming, are good for your joints. Therefore, if you engage in these high-impact sports, you can reduce the frequency, or consult a professional on how to reduce your risk of suffering arthritis.
Quit Smoking
If you want another reason to stop smoking, besides lung cancer, here it is. Smoking is a significant risk factor for arthritis, particularly rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, smoking can worsen arthritis symptoms.
Although quitting the habit can be hard, it is not impossible. Some medications can help you quit. Besides, you can consider joining support groups.
These lifestyle adjustments will improve your general health and well-being, with the added advantage of helping to avoid the onset of arthritis. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to avoid arthritis. There are numerous forms of arthritis, each with its distinct causes and risk factors.
Therefore, if you are concerned about your risk of developing arthritis, or experience some telltale warning signs, do not hesitate to see a specialist. Your doctor will provide a professional assessment and diagnosis of your concerns. If you already have arthritis, your doctor will design the best care plan for y
