Is Coffee Good For Arthritis
Coffee could potentially benefit people with rheumatoid arthritis because of the anti-inflammatory properties of coffee. 5 Reducing inflammation in the body could help reduce joint pain. Also, the stimulating effects of caffeine help to fight physical and mental fatigue that is common with rheumatoid arthritis.
Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Cause Fatigue
Everyones experience of rheumatoid arthritis is a little different. But many people with RA say that fatigue is among the worst symptoms of the disease.
Living with chronic pain can be exhausting. And fatigue can make it more difficult to manage your pain. Its important to pay attention to your body and take breaks before you get too tired.
What are rheumatoid arthritis flare symptoms?
The symptoms of a rheumatoid arthritis flare arent much different from the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. But people with RA have ups and downs. A flare is a time when you have significant symptoms after feeling better for a while. With treatment, youll likely have periods of time when you feel better. Then, stress, changes in weather, certain foods or infections trigger a period of increased disease activity.
Although you cant prevent flares altogether, there are steps you can take to help you manage them. It might help to write your symptoms down every day in a journal, along with whats going on in your life. Share this journal with your rheumatologist, who may help you identify triggers. Then you can work to manage those triggers.
Will Changing My Diet Help My Rheumatoid Arthritis
When combined with the treatments and medications your provider recommends, changes in diet may help reduce inflammation and other symptoms of RA. But it wont cure you. You can talk with your doctor about adding good fats and minimizing bad fats, salt and processed carbohydrates. No herbal or nutritional supplements, like collagen, can cure rheumatoid arthritis. These dietary changes are safer and most successful when monitored by your rheumatologist.
But there are lifestyle changes you can make that may help relieve your symptoms. Your rheumatologist may recommend weight loss to reduce stress on inflamed joints.
People with rheumatoid arthritis also have a higher risk of coronary artery disease. High blood cholesterol can respond to changes in diet. A nutritionist can recommend specific foods to eat or avoid to reach a desirable cholesterol level.
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Your Doctor Cant Fully Appreciate Potential New Symptoms Via Telemedicine
In the COVID-19 pandemic era, people with rheumatoid arthritis cant always make it into the doctors office for a physical visit. But a telemedicine, or telehealth, appointment, which is unquestionably better than not checking in with health professionals at all, may not detect that the disease is progressing as well as an in-person visit.
Domingues says that rheumatologists should definitely notice if joints are swollen and warm to the touch in an office consultation signs of active inflammation but they may not catch the severity of those symptoms on a computer screen. If were not physically examining them, the communication between doctors and patients needs to be even better, Domingues says. He says to make sure that you mention how your joints feel when you wake up, how much stiffness you experience in the morning and for how long, if youre able to make a full fist early in the day, and if you see red, warm, or swollen joints. Those are the pivotal signs of worsening RA, he says.
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Start Cutting Out Processed Foods
While an elimination diet will help you find the worst foods for your arthritis, Turner says processed and high-sugar foods are generally the worst foods for sufferers of any type of arthritis for the same reasons they are harmful to your overall health. “Foods that contain a lot of chemicals and preservatives, high-starch foods, sugars, highly-processed grains, things like that will encourage inflammation and are what you want to get out of your diet first and replace with whole foods,” she says.
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Stop Doing These Things If You Live With Joint Pain Stiffness And Inflammation
Living with arthritis is difficult because it can affect your quality of life. Chronic pain and limited mobility may stop you from doing things you used to love doing. But the good news is that in addition to medications and treatments aimed at improving arthritis symptoms, some things you do or don’t do can improve your arthritis or stop it from getting worse.
Can I Prevent Rheumatoid Arthritis
You cannot prevent rheumatoid arthritis because the cause of the disease is not known.
Quitting smoking, or never smoking, will reduce your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. You are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis if someone in your close family has it, but unfortunately there is no way to reduce this risk.
People who have rheumatoid arthritis often experience flare ups, which are times when their joints are particularly sore. Learning what triggers your flare ups can help reduce or prevent them.
For some people, stress can trigger a flare up, so can being run down or pushing yourself beyond your limits. Having an infection, missing a dose of your medicine or changing your treatment plan can also cause a flare up.
Keeping a food and activity diary may help work out your personal triggers but keep in mind that sometimes flare ups happen without any obvious cause.
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Frigid Temps And Snow To Close Out January Heres What The Rest Of The Month Could Look Like
The Farmer’s Almanac says that January will close out with frigid temps and snow through most of the Northeast.
It was nearly 60 degrees in Harrisburg Wednesday, which certainly beats the bitter cold that the area recently faced, but will it last?
Have we pushed through the worst already or is there more to come?
Well, the folks over at Farmers Almanac promised a brutal winter heading into the end of last year, and they insist theres still some chilly days ahead.
According to its weather forecast, the Northeast will see cloudy weather, turning blustery with snow, up to in some areas.
And, well, if the Almanac is right, its just going to be a cold, snowy rest of January for chunks of the Northeast.
From Jan. 12-15, the Almanac says the Snowbelt regions will see lake squalls, and from Jan 16-20 it says New England will see heavy snow.
The next week, Jan. 20-23rd, the almanac predicts that the Northeast will see bitter cold with many single-digit and subzero temperatures.
The next week? Scattered flurries.
And, to close it all out, Jan. 28th-31st, it predicts that a sharp cold front will bring rain, snow showers, before clearing, cold.
It doesnt sound fun, but we can always hope the good, old trusty almanac is off and we can keep temperatures and the weather, in general, tolerable across the next couple weeks. But, just in case, keep the jackets and extra blankets on standby.
Foods To Avoid With Ra
Red meat and dairy
Theyâre our main sources of saturated fats, which can cause inflammation in fat tissue. Other sources include full-fat dairy products, pasta dishes, and grain-based desserts.
Corn oil
The culprit here is omega-6 fatty acids. You want to cut down on them while youâre going for more omega-3s. They can lead to weight gain and joint inflammation if you overdo it. Sunflower, safflower, soy, and vegetable oils are also sources.
Fried food, fast food, and processed foods
Theyâre the major source of trans fats, which are created when hydrogen is added to vegetable oil to extend shelf life. They can trigger inflammation throughout your body. Plus, they raise bad cholesterol and lower the good type.
Salt
Not only is too much salt bad for your blood pressure, but if you have RA and take steroids, your body may hold on to it more easily. Aim for less than 1,500 milligrams a day.
It tells your body to release chemicals called cytokines that kick-start the inflammation process. Check food labels for words that end in âose,â like fructose or sucrose.
Alcohol
It doesnât mix well with your RA meds. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen can causestomach bleeding and ulcers on their own. Those odds go up when you add alcohol.
If you drink while youâre taking acetaminophen, leflunomide , or methotrexate, it could damage your liver.
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Achy And Stiff Mornings
Another characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis is stiffness in the joints in the morning, says the Arthritis Foundation.
Again, this is also a common problem in osteoarthritis, which can cause pain after long periods of inactivity, like sleeping.
The difference between the two is that osteoarthritis pain usually subsides in about a half hour. Stiffness from rheumatoid arthritis will last much longer, possibly for a good chunk of the day.
The right kind of exercise can help alleviate stiffness for people with RA and osteoarthritis pain.
What Medications Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis
Early treatment with certain drugs can improve your long-term outcome. Combinations of drugs may be more effective than, and appear to be as safe as, single-drug therapy.
There are many medications to decrease joint pain, swelling and inflammation, and to prevent or slow down the disease. Medications that treat rheumatoid arthritis include:
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Biologics tend to work rapidly within two to six weeks. Your provider may prescribe them alone or in combination with a DMARD like methotrexate.
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Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis
Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis is a disease affecting the bones. Inflammation is normally one of the bodys protective responses to infection or injury, but in diseases such as CRMO, uncontrolled inflammation can cause damage. In CRMO, inflammation targets the bone and can occur throughout the body.
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How Is Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated
Joint damage generally occurs within the first two years of diagnosis, so its important to see your provider if you notice symptoms. Treating rheumatoid arthritis in this window of opportunity can help prevent long-term consequences.
Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis include lifestyle changes, therapies, medicine and surgery. Your provider considers your age, health, medical history and how bad your symptoms are when deciding on a treatment.
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When To Get Medical Advice
See a GP if you think you have symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, so they can try to identify the underlying cause.
Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis quickly is important, because early treatment can prevent it getting worse and reduce the risk of joint damage.
Find out more about diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis.
When Should I See My Doctor
If you notice symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, or you are concerned that you may have rheumatoid arthritis, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor may refer you to a rheumatologist who is a doctor that specialises in joints. It is important to act quickly. The sooner you start treatment, the less likely you are to experience permanent joint damage and deformity.
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Location In The Hands
The hands are a common site for both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, but the conditions tend to target different joints within the hands. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis look a little different, says Dr. Shadick. In the hands, for instance, RA tends to affect the knuckles, whereas OA tends to affect the end joints.
Numbness Or Tingling In Your Hands
One sign of rheumatoid arthritis is carpal tunnel syndrome, which is marked by tingling in the wrist and hands. The sensation is similar to the feeling you get when you hit your funny bone, said Dr. Mandl.
This happens because the swelling in the arm compresses the nerves going into the hands. The sensation is often worse at night.
If you go to a healthcare professional with these symptoms and don’t have other RA symptoms, you may be diagnosed with only carpal tunnel syndrome.
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Watch Our Video About What Osteoarthritis Is
Osteoarthritis is a very common condition which can affect any joint in the body. Its most likely to affect the joints that bear most of our weight, such as the knees and feet. Joints that we use a lot in everyday life, such as the joints of the hand, are also commonly affected.
In a healthy joint, a coating of tough but smooth and slippery tissue, called cartilage, covers the surface of the bones and helps the bones to move freely against each other. When a joint develops osteoarthritis, part of the cartilage thins and the surface becomes rougher. This means the joint doesnt move as smoothly as it should.
When cartilage becomes worn or damaged, all the tissues within the joint become more active than normal as the body tries to repair the damage. The repair processes may change the structure of the joint, but will often allow the joint to work normally and without any pain and stiffness. Almost all of us will develop osteoarthritis in some of our joints as we get older, though we may not even be aware of it.
However, the repair processes dont always work so well and changes to the joint structure can sometimes cause or contribute to symptoms such as pain, swelling or difficulty in moving the joint normally.
For example:
For most joints, osteoarthritis is more common and more severe in women.
Signs Your Rheumatoid Arthritis May Be Getting Worse
You need to work with your health care provider to determine whether and to what degree your rheumatoid arthritis is getting worse. But looking out for these common clues can help you have a more informed conversation with your doctor so you can figure out whats going on and how to treat it.
More visibly swollen and tender joints
Perhaps the easiest way to tell if your RA is getting worse is if the number of visibly swollen and tender joints is increasing. Rheumatoid arthritis commonly first affects joints in the fingers and toes, and may start to affect more joints such as the wrists, elbows, shoulders, or knees over time.
Although your physician regularly checks your joints with physical exams, and can note which joints are affected, Dr. Ghosh says it can be helpful for you to give your input as well. It is a good idea to monitor which of your joints are affected by pain, stiffness, and/or swelling, as these may change from day to day and may increase over time, especially if your disease is undertreated.
Symmetrical pain
In the early stages of RA, when only a few joints may be affected, you may not experience pain on both sides of the body. As the disease progresses, however, pain felt in a joint on one side of the body will likely be felt in the same joint on the other side. That said, the degree of pain may be different on each side, so its important to pay attention to pain location rather than just pain severity.
More frequent flares
Less range of motion
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Explain The Pain Is It Osteoarthritis Or Rheumatoid Arthritis
If opening jars becomes more difficult because of painful hands, or if climbing stairs produces pain in your knees, “arthritis” is often the first thing that comes to mind. The two most common forms of arthritisosteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritiscan cause similar aches and pains, but there are a few key differences between them. For example:
Onset. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage wears away. Pain occurs when bone rubs against bone. This type of arthritis pain tends to develop gradually and intermittently over several months or years.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis affecting 27 million Americans. Many people believe it’s a crippling and inevitable part of growing old. But things are changing. Treatments are better, and plenty of people age well without much arthritis. If you have osteoarthritis, you can take steps to protect your joints, reduce discomfort, and improve mobility all of which are detailed in this report. If you don’t have osteoarthritis, the report offers strategies for preventing it.
Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an inflammatory condition in which your immune system attacks the tissues in your joints. It causes pain and stiffness that worsen over several weeks or a few months. And joint pain isn’t always the first sign of rheumatoid arthritissometimes it begins with “flu-like” symptoms of fatigue, fever, weakness, and minor joint aches.
What Are The Goals Of Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
The most important goal of treating rheumatoid arthritis is to reduce joint pain and swelling. Doing so should help maintain or improve joint function. The long-term goal of treatment is to slow or stop joint damage. Controlling joint inflammation reduces your pain and improves your quality of life.
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Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis mainly affects the joints, although it can cause problems in other parts of the body too.
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis often develop gradually over several weeks, but some cases can progress quickly over a number of days.
The symptoms vary from person to person. They can come and go, and may change over time. You may occasionally experience flares when your condition deteriorates and your symptoms become more severe.
Issues With Your Eyes
People with RA are also at risk for Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that can cause dryness of the eyes, mouth, nose, throat, or skin due to inflammation that stops glands from releasing moisture, said Dr. Mandl.
This can happen even in the early stages of RA, but it’s unlikely to be the only symptom.
Most people with dry eyes head to an eye doctor to find out the cause, but Dr. Mandl recommended telling a healthcare professionaleven an eye doctor or other specialistabout additional symptoms you’re having in any part of the body.
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