The winter brings a lot of suffering to people with arthritis. Arthritis pain appears to flare up in the winters, causing sore muscles and joints. Fatigue and swelling are also some of the most common symptoms.
A decrease in atmospheric pressure during the winters causes tissues to swollen, leading to a build-up of friction between the joints, causing pain. The decreased supply of blood to the fingers and toes makes the pain worse.
To know more about Arthritis and methods that can help manage this pain in the winter, HealthWire Media talked to Dr Kaushal Kant Mishra, Director, Joint Replacement and Orthopedics, Fortis Escorts Hospital.
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis is an inflammation and joint pain disease. This can impact the various joints of the body, such as wrists, knees, hips, and wrists. Arthritis symptoms are more during the the winter. The range of motion and impact on everyday activities can seriously be affected by arthritis.
One should take several preventive measures to stop the pain in the winter. The cold weather makes pain or sorrow worse. Decrease in barometric pressure affects joint and cartilage. In the winter season, many people experience stiffness and decreased mobility.
Two conditions are common during the winter season. These are joint pain and bone pain. In certain cases, this can be ignored only if the symptoms become persistent or extreme because of the conditions prevalent.
Arthritis is a bone or joint inflammation that affects physically and emotionally millions of people worldwide. The disease happens when the immune system of the body attacks the body’s tissue. Therefore, it is critical early on before arthritis takes over to diagnose and treat recurring pain.
Types of Arthritis
Ear strength, redness or swollen seams, morning stiffness and trouble moving are some of the early warning signs. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that results from wear and tear of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is another form of arthritis that can cause pain and damage to the whole body.
The majority of patients with osteoarthritis are elderly. It is a degenerative joint condition that causes pain or swelling due to the gradual cartilage deterioration in the joints. The supporting cartilage that is progressively wearing off the ends of the bones in the joints is often referred to as arthritis ‘wear and tear.’
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that is a form of auto-immune arthritis that normally affects women and can attack normal cells in the body. It affects women from 30 to 60 years more than men (older adults). Rheumatoid arthritis pain occurs in joints, particularly in hands, wrists, feet, and knees, which lasts for over 4 to 6 weeks. Joint swelling may occur and extreme joint rigidity with fatigue and fever in the early morning.
How To Reduce Your Risk of Arthritis And Joint Pain In Winters: Follow These Tips For Relief
- Balanced Diet – You should select a diet which has plenty of antioxidants. These diets include berries, vegetables and herbs. These foods are known for reducing inflammation. A balanced diet is essential. Complete grains, fish and nuts are other products which reduce inflammation.
- Keep your weight under control – It is vital to have a healthy diet for weight loss, as being overweight increases the force on your knees.
- Regular exercise – Exercise helps keep joints flexible and strong. It can also help you lose weight, which takes pressure off aching joints.
- Keep Yourself Warm – Decreased blood flow to your joints causes weakness and pain. It is advisable to dress in layers and remove the layers one by one in case it gets too warm.
- Keep Yourself Hydrated- Drinking enough fluids helps to extract contaminants from the body, lubricates the joints and avoids muscle cramping. Consume at least eight glasses of water a day.
- Physical therapy – Therapical exercises are a crucial component of the arthritis treatment and help to reinforce the muscles around the injured joint. Physical exercise affects arthritis and may improve pain, joints function and a person’s mental health.
You should consult a doctor in case the pain gets worse. It is advised that you should not take any painkillers without the supervision of a doctor. A multi-pronged approach, consisting of a balanced diet, exercise and a stress-free lifestyle, will help you cope with arthritis pain and beat the winter blues.