8 Simple Steps To Avoiding Arthritis In Later Life
Helping people with arthritis is one of our top priorities here at Mangar Health. In fact, it’s why we were founded in the first place, with our founder inventing the original bath lift to help an elderly relative with arthritis.
After all, there’s nothing quite like a long hot soak in the bath to help relive the symptoms of arthritis which is why we’re so proud our bathing cushion can let people have a real soak in a full bath but… we’d much rather people didn’t develop arthritis in the first place.
Whilst modern medicine hasn’t yet got to the point where it can cure arthritis there are some simple steps you can take to lower your risk of developing it as you get older…
Smoking
If you’re a smoker it must feel like everyone’s out to get you these days but there are good reasons for that.
Along with all the other negative effects smoking has proven to have on your health, it’s also been shown to double your risk of developing arthritis when compared to non-smokers.
What does smoking have to do with arthritis you ask?
Scientists have found that smoking massively increases your body’s inflammation levels in joints, which is one of, if not the main, underlying cause of all types of arthritis. For more info see what the NRAS has to say
Get Plenty Of Exercise
According to Arthritis Research UK getting plenty of exercise actually has two positive effects in reducing your chances of arthritis.
Reducing your weight takes the stress of carrying that excess weight off your joints whilst at the same time strengthening the muscles around them.
Binge Watching Game Of Thrones
Ok, so it’s not just Game of Thrones which causes arthritis but rather, at least indirectly, all TV viewing.
You see, as we mentioned above, obesity is one of the leading causes of arthritis in later life and people that watch a lot of TV on a regular basis are more likely to put on extra weight. Add to that, in later life inactive joints are also more prone to arthritic complications.
To avoid this, try to limit your television viewing and be more active, even if it’s just going for a walk (unless Game of Thrones is on and then we totally understand!)
Red Meat
We all know that chicken is better for you than steak but eating white meat over red is also a good way to avoid arthritis.
The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society found that people who regularly are a lot of red meat were doubling their chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
Loneliness
Staving off arthritis isn’t just about your physical health, you also need to look after your mental health.
Researchers at Oxford University found that people who were socially awkward or isolated tended to develop more severe rheumatoid arthritis when compared to those with large circles of family or friends.
Eat Those Oranges!
Eating a healthy diet is a great way of decreasing your odds of arthritis in later life, especially if you include plenty of fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C.
Researchers at Duke University in the USA found that people who weren’t getting enough vitamin C tended to have higher rates of osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis.
Avoid Anything Your Allergic To
This may seem like really obvious advice but it’s been backed up by research from Kings College London; when you have an allergic reaction to something, even a minor one it affects your body in numerous different ways and one of those is inflammation of your joints. Over time that can lead to an increased chance of arthritis in your joints, so the best advice is if you know you have a reaction to something, even if it’s only a mild one, try to avoid it to prevent the onset of arthritis.
Omega-3’s Are Great For Preventing Arthritis
Certain fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which have a lot of healthy affects on the body including reducing inflammation in the joints.
A study in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases showed that woman who regularly ate fish such as salmon, trout, mackerel and sardines were at lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
