| SolveYourProblem
Article Series: Arthritis
Help Me Understand Arthritis & Arthritis Pain
How
Can I Prevent Arthritis?
Understanding that arthritis in all of its
many manifestations can be a crippling and painful disease
we may well ask ourselves what we can do to take preventative
measures.
Since medical researchers seem to be at a loss to explain
the exact cause of arthritis it may not appear to be possible
to know how to prevent it. However, many health care professionals
have analyzed the factors that go into contributing to the
progress of arthritis and have come up with some very practical
suggestions. Keep in mind the old saying that an ounce of prevention
is worth a pound of cure.
Some arthritis, such as oseteoarthritis evidences strain on
the joints. So one of the first things to avoid is undue
and repetitive stress on our joints. For instance, if you find
that you begin experiencing some chronic pain from some activity
- be it sports or work related - it is time to take it seriously
and adjust your routine. Remember, the wear and tear that can
result on stress bearing joints, such as the knee, can be caused
by repetitive movements as well as heavy physical labor.
While guarding against over stressing your joints it has still
been found that appropriate exercise can do the body a world
of good. If we are too sedentary our muscles weaken and our
joints become unprotected and thus susceptible to joint damage.
Regular exercise also works to keep our joints more flexible.
And incorporating some light weight training can actually work
to build denser bones. Not to mention the wonderful benefits
of improved circulation.
Another way to reduce stress on our joints is to manage
our weight. And in watching our weight and what we eat we can bear
in mind that, while some may hotly dispute whether or not foods
play a role in aggravating arthritis, most agree that the type
of fast food, chemically enhanced, nutrient lacking fodder
that is a part of our modern world, is not good for building
a healthier body. That by paying attention to whole, natural
foods we can do much to avoid all manner of disease. And if
indeed an individual finds that they notice a reaction to certain
foods it would be wise to avoid these if possible. It has been
acknowledged by some that in certain cases the destructive
inflammation that can result in joints could be aggravated
by these allergic reactions.
Learn
to love water. Seventy percent of the cartilage in our
joints is made up of water. So keeping our bodies properly
hydrated can mean keeping our joints lubricated and in fine
working order. Nowadays it is common to see people drinking
a lot of coffee, tea and caffeine laden soft drinks. But these
liquids act more like diuretics and can actually serve to dehydrate
the body.
The key to preventing arthritis then is to start by being
aware of your body and how you treat it in your daily routine.
It comes down to common sense. Though we cannot control all
the negative factors that may go into causing arthritis we
can certainly take positive steps to avoid the things that
are known to aggravate it. And while it may require a certain
amount of discipline we have most assuredly come to understand
that it is well worth it to improve our chances of having a
quality of life that allows us to be productive and happy.
#
# # # #
SolveYourProblem.com
: 2009
> Home > Arthritis
Articles : Main Page |
