Arthritis can be a very difficult condition to deal with. It results in unbearable pain and restriction in movement. Arthritis occurs when the cartilage, which is used for shock absorption in the bone as the bone moves, is eroded. Cartilage is like grease between our bones which prevents them from rubbing against each other. When this grease is gone, we feel the effect of our bones rubbing against each other, the resulting pain is what we call arthritis pain. Is the US alone, 46 million people are suffering from arthritis. Out of this number, 61% are women. This huge percentage of women suffering from arthritis calls for greater preventative measures amongst the female population. One reason that a great majority of women are affected by this condition is that women have lesser bone mass than males and their bones are brittle. We give you the list of all the right things you can do to make sure you keep arthritis at bay.
Watch your weight
Carrying extra body weight is the biggest culprit for arthritis. This is because your body is now bearing the extra pressure, this is being translated on to your joints and bones which have to work harder to support your body. If you are overweight and are suffering arthritis pain, the best thing you can do to lessen the pain or reverse it is to reduce your weight. Doctors claim that every extra pound of weight you carry is worth four more pounds which your joints have to take care of.
Get adequate vitamin D
Vitamin D is what makes our bones strong. Most people are deficient in vitamin D and they don’t even know about it. If you want to prevent arthritis, the best way to do it is to get plenty of vitamin from various sources. Such as sunlight, dairy, poultry, meat, and vegetables. Also improving your calcium profile will help your body absorb vitamin D.
Ditch the heels
Heels are an absolute enemy for your arthritis. Most of your weight is concentrated into a single point which means absolute hell for your joints because of the uneven distribution of the weight. You’re on your toes all the time and your knees are overworked. It is not necessary to completely avoid them at all cost, wearing heels for a few hours will not be very taxing for the joints.
Drink plenty of water
The cartilage between our joints is formed by water. Dehydration leads to water being drained out of the cartilage and it becomes prone to erosion. As soon as the cartilage between discs loses water, they dry down and cause pain.
Watch how you move
The way you move your body which is known as body mechanics determines the amount of load on your joints. This is especially true when performing weight training or lifting heavy objects. Good body mechanics helps ease your joints and release the pent up tension between them.
