Natural Treatments For Arthritis

If you have arthritis you know how painful it can be and how it is to engage in normal daily activities. You might feel quite overwhelmed, and like the world is crashing around you. Sometimes hopelessness can abound when symptoms are very severe.

1. Exercise your joints regularly
   
   If you have sore joints you will want to keep them in motion. Even though it may be painful to move your affected joints, it really is best. Even a little range of motion work will assist in soothing joint pain and increasing your level of health and flexibility. To help overcome the arthritic pain that you suffer, try to follow a regular exercise routine.

 
1. Lose weight if you are over-weight
   
   Arthritis can be alleviated when you lose excesses pounds which stress your joints and muscles. As expected, a body with excess weight puts more stress on the joints that support the weight, leading to more frequent and more severe arthritis flare-ups. When you lose weight, the chemical composition of your body also changes. You will produce a lower amount of inflammatory chemicals, which can certainly benefit the arthritis symptoms you are experiencing.
 
2. Buy special tools to help perform your daily chores
   
   Buy some equipment to help you! If you have the right tools, even a person with arthritis can perform most tasks. Devices such as tools that can pick up items or reach high shelves without you bending over can really save wear and tear on your hips and back. Special can-openers, velcro shoe straps, and many other items can get those jobs done with little or no pain. A small investment in these tools can make a big difference in your everyday life.
 
3. Reduce or release stress
   
   Stress affects the condition of arthritis. When you feel stress, especially for periods of time, pain can be increased and arthritis can progress. Find a means for releasing stress. A hobby or healthy exercise routine can help. Do your best to stay away from stressful situations.
 
4. Get plenty of sleep
   
   Even if you have to take naps during the day, always be sure your body gets adequate sleep. If napping at a particular time every day is necessary for you to feel well-rested and to minimize your arthritic pain, make the time to do so. This gives you the ability to effectively manage your arthritis in a way that works for you.
   
   During the night make sure your body gets plenty of good sleep as insufficient sleep makes it impossible for the body to combat painful arthritis effects. You will need 8 to 10 hours of sleep each day, depending on the amount of stress you have. Your body will enjoy tremendous benefits from proper sleep.
 
5. Get the right bed to sleep in
   
   Sleeping in a bed that is right for your body can be beneficial. If you do not know exactly what type of bed should be used, contact your doctor for advice. Each person is unique, hence getting expert advice is really the only way to find out which bed is the best one for your unique arthritis pain.
 
6. Alternate between ice and heating pads
   
   Before implementing heat or cold treatments on your joints, make sure that it is cleared by a doctor. Ice and heating pads will help to reduce the pressure and pain that you feel from arthritis. You can also alternate these two methods for better results, as long as you do not use this on a daily basis.
 
7. Set the timer when doing chores
   
   Have a timer set. If there are chores that need done, set the timer to five to ten minutes so that you can have breaks when you need to. Many people attempt to push through their pain to finish everything in one shot, but this can harm you.
 
8. Relax with meditation, yoga or any relaxation techniques
   
   Simply relaxing is a very effective method of getting rid of fatigue that comes from dealing with your arthritis. Your mind and body can be rejuvenated with the help of meditation, yoga, and other relaxation techniques. Taking some time to relax can help you continue through your day.
 
9. Participate in therapy
   
   Participating in therapy helps a lot as some people that have arthritis have a hard time doing things on their own and therapies can show that you're not alone. In addition to helping arthritis suffers deal with their physical problems, therapy can address other issues that commonly occur along with arthritis like depression.
 
10. Increase your muscle mass
    
    Increasing your muscle mass will provide relief from chronic. Incorporate strength training slowly at first. Use light weights and limit the length of your initial sessions. Eventually, your muscles will increase in tone and strength, and you should notice an improvement in your arthritis.
 
11. Stretch your muscles
    
    Always take time to stretch properly. If you're not experiencing any pain, give your joints a good stretching a minimum of one time per day. If you're not sure what will work for you, your doctor can give you guidance with coming up with an appropriate program.
 
12. Take a shower
    
    You might want to start your day with a warm shower, then work some stretches into your exercise routine. This will help prepare you for the rest of your day.
    
    If you become overheated, your arthritis may act up more. Let your body cool down to avoid this. Give yourself a break, take a cool shower, or just rest for a few minutes.
 
13. Take fish oil supplements
    
    Try taking fish oil supplements if you are arthritic. Scientific studies have shown that the omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish oil supplements reduces joint inflammation, which means fewer arthritis flare-ups. Supermarkets and health food stores carry a variety of fish oil supplements.
 
14. Wear comfortable shoes
    
    If you have arthritis, it is vital that you exercise in comfortable shoes that are designed for your workout. This will make you unevenly distributed in terms of weight. They'll also wreak havoc on your leg joints. It is important to regularly replace your shoes, especially if you discover uneven patterns of wear on the soles.

Once you are diagnosed with this arthritis, begin treatment as soon as possible. Although arthritis is incurable, you can alleviate some of your pain and other symptoms sooner by seeking treatment immediately after you are diagnosed with the condition. The important things to do are to seek the help of your physician, follow your treatment plan and take any medications you are prescribed, according to the directions.

You should read the literature on what new treatments are coming out for arthritis. Bear in mind, however, that unless your current treatment is totally ineffective, it is unlikely that your doctor will be keen on switching treatments mid-stream. Talk to your doctor any time you become aware of a different treatment that may be more effective. He may agree to let you give it a try.

Make sure that arthritis is actually the condition you have before you start trying to treat it. If you are treating arthritis but are suffering from another condition, you could be wasting time and money on fruitless attempts to ease your pain.
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Apply the advice from this article into your daily life, to help you better manage your arthritis pain. If you suffer from arthritis, there are a number of treatment options available to help manage your pain.

Stop Suffering From Back Pain! Get Rid Of It!

The most common cause of back pain comes from injuries to the back muscles. The ligaments in the back muscles can easily be damage by any type of twist or strain which eventually leads to back pain. Follow this article for many common sense ideas on how to deal with back pain. Although it is definitely not easy to deal with back pain, the good thing is that back pain generally will subside after some time.

1. Stretching and exercise
   
   You can protect your back during those long days at the desk by simply taking walks on your breaks. Getting up to stretch and move your body will reduce the effects of compression on your spine and ease muscle cramping.
   
   Contrary to popular belief, a person who suffers from a bad back should exercise frequently. While someone suffering from back pain may worry that exercise will make it worse, the opposite is true. Many people can ease their pain by stretching the muscles that are in the back.
   
   
   A great relaxation exercise is to lay down and let your body become limp. Once you feel completely relaxed try flexing the areas of your body that are stiff or in pain, one area at a time. This will help reduce the pain and relax you muscles.
 
2. Carry heavy objects correctly
   
   When you have to carry heavy objects, make sure you distribute the weight evenly. If you have to carry things regularly, such as a handbag or schoolbooks, try a backpack style that spreads the weight over a wider surface area.
 
3. Reduce weight
   
   If you weigh 10 or more pounds than what you should ideally, then it's time to start a weight loss plan. Carrying additional weight, especially in your abdominal area, can shift your body's center of gravity. This will strain your lower back, and cause chronic back pain ultimately.
 
4. Correct sleeping position
   
   Getting enough sleep is important. It's crucial you take the time and rest. Rest on the bed with pillows beneath your legs. Stretch and relax for a few minutes. Learn to listen to your body when it tells you to rest and you can avoid most back pain
   
   Be mindful of the position you sleep in. Sleeping flat on your back not only prevents you from straining it during the night, but also allows you to position a heating pad under you. Make sure that you do not sleep on your stomach.
 
5. Vitamins for back pain
   
   Getting recommended amounts of Vitamin C and D should be a part of your nutritional plan to fight back pain. Lacking in these essential minerals and vitamins will result in bone depletion. This causes deterioration that can manifest itself as back pain. Get sunlight, take a supplement, or eat more calcium if you need to. Your back will feel better.
   
   Put more vitamin B12 in your diet. Some people can have back pain from a lack of B12. You can diminish your back pain if you eat foods that are rich in B12, like broccoli and other vegetables. Talk with your doctor before increasing B12 in your diet to check what your levels are.
 
6. Proper posture
   
   Choose an office chair with good lower back support. A common cause of back pain is the lack of proper support in the lumbar region. This is the area in the lower back where the spine curves inward. Purchase a pillow and place it in behind your lower back for increased support.
   
   To protect yourself from unnecessary back pain, even while sitting, always maintain good posture. Many think that an injured back is always the result of some strenuous activity. Actually, improper posture while sitting for long periods of time - as is the case when people hunch over computers - can injure back muscles over the long-term.
 
7. Proper mattress
   
   A good quality mattress can be a remedy for back pain. Your bedding system can be one of the more expensive home purchases you make, but many retailers will allow you to "test sleep" a mattress set prior to committing your funds, so long as you keep it in good condition.
   
   Your mattress can help relief your back pain. Most folks spend one third of their lives asleep, so if your mattress doesn't provide the proper support, you could be spending your life in a lot of unnecessary pain. Purchase a medium-firm mattress and use proper pillows to support the neck.
 
8. Correct type of shoes to wear
   
   You can reduce the frequency of back pain when you wear shoes that offer the right fit and support. Shoes that are difficult to walk on or don't fit your feet well can alter your posture which causes back aches. If you must wear them, you should purchase some insoles and only wear them for short periods of time.
 
9. Caffeine helps
   
   An odd method for dealing with troublesome back pain is drinking a little coffee when suitable. The reasoning behind the "coffee fix" is a recent medical study that demonstrated how the caffeine within the drink blocked adenosine, a chemical directly related to back pain. This chemical is responsible for stiff back muscles, so by having a cup of coffee, you help enable your back muscles to stretch, which in turn prevents them from causing you pain.
 
10. Visit a chiropractor
    
    It's a good idea to begin a habit of visiting the chiropractor once or twice every six months. You will want to visit them even more if you are genetically inclined to back problems, or placed in harm's way more often than average. A chiropractor can fix any small issues before they turn into serious injuries.
 
11. Back surgery
    
    Back surgery may be given as an option by your doctor if your back pain is severe. If other methods have not worked, then surgery is usually required. In some cases, surgery is the only option you can do for injuries that can cause pain.

To determine the severity of your back injury and to avoid making it worse, it is a good idea to take it easy for a couple of days after the onset of the back pain. If the pain subsides within a short time, it is alright to assume that it is just a minor injury. However, if your pain is the same or becomes worse, it is better to make an appointment with your physician or chiropractor to further address the issue. Resting more than two full days will harm your body further because your muscles will begin to atrophy.

An aching or injured back can be quite a serious problem. By not managing your back pain, you run the risk of severe damage that can affect your whole life. Taking proper precautions to avoid a back injury in the first place is preferable to trying to treat one after it occurs. If you have already experienced back pain, then getting the right treatment is important. This article can show you how to keep from getting back issues in the first place, and how to treat them if you do find it happening to you.

Vitamin C Benefits

Among all the vitamins, vitamin C stands out as the most well-known as it is crucial in promoting growth in children as well as in providing protection against the deficiency disease of scurvy.

Vitamin C also plays many important roles such as:

• Maintaining the health of teeth, gums, bones, cartilage, capillaries and connective tissue.
• Acting as a natural antiseptic
• Controlling blood cholesterol levels
• Maintaining healthy sex organs
• Providing resistance to infections especially colds and flu
• Promoting iron absorption from food by making folic acid active
• Producing anti-stress hormones
• Acts as an antioxidant
• Preventing gastric and oesophageal cancer

The following ailments has also been treated quite successfully by vitamin C:

• Arthritis
• High blood cholesterol levels
• Bleeding gums
• Scurvy
• Anaemia
• Respiratory diseases

Both alcohol and stress can inhibit the absorption of vitamin C.  The same goes for contraceptive pills, aspirins, anti-arthritic drugs and antibiotics.  Diabetics, athletes and anyone suffering from accidental wounds or undergoing surgery will need extra amounts of vitamin C.

Even though vitamin C is so crucial to our health, surprisingly, vitamin C deficiency is widespread, most probably because a lot of people do not eat sufficient leafy green vegetables and citrus fruits and instead rely too much on packeted fruit juices which soon lose their vitamin C content once opened.

Vitamin C deficiency symptoms include:

• Weakness
• Muscle and joint pain
• Gingivitis
• Bleeding gums
• Loosening of teeth
• Irritability

On the other hand, symptoms of excessive vitamin C intake include:

• Nausea
• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea

However overdoes of vitamin C is rather rare and it is regarded as a very safe vitamin.  Good sources of vitamin C are:

Fruits

• Blackberries
• Blackcurrants
• Cranberries
• Grapefruit
• Kiwi fruit
• Lemons
• Limes
• Melons
• Oranges
• Passion fruit
• Pineapples
• Raspberries
• Strawberries

Vegetables

• Beetroot
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Courgettes
• Green or red peppers
• Lettuce
• Mustard and cress
• Onions
• Parsley
• Tomatoes
• Watercress