Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 3-4-22

Health
1. Watch your weight
Extra pounds put more stress on your joints, especially your knees and hips. Losing just a few pounds can help relieve the strain.
2. Support your joints
If a joint is unstable, a splint, brace, or neoprene sleeve may help ease pain and reduce the risk of injury. Ask your doctor or phys- ical therapist if joint support is right for you.
ing3. Keep those joints mov-
Regular exercise is a powerful remedy for arthritis. Experts rec- ommend a combination of stretching, range-of-motion exer- cises (moving the joint through its full range), strength training, and aerobic exercise. As your joints become stronger, more flexible, and more stable, arthri- tis pain will likely fade and you may need less pain medication. If it’s hard to walk, start with water exercise. Many local YMCAs offer this kind of “aquatic therapy” class for arthritis.
4. Heat and ice
Both heat and cold can ease arthritis pain. Your doctor or phys- ical therapist can help you decide which is the best choice for you. If your doctor recommends heat, try using a heating pad for about 15 minutes, or taking a warm bath or shower. You can ease the swelling inajointwithanicepackorabag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel, but don’t ice a joint for more than 20 minutes at a time (longer than that can cause frostbite). Keep in mind that cold therapy may be counterproductive if you have circulation problems.
5. Get your vitamins
No matter what kind of arthri- tis you may have, a balanced diet is essential for good health. Some preliminary studies suggest that two nutrients in particular — vita- min C and vitamin D — may show promise for easing osteoarthritis. (Vitamin D helps your body ab- sorb calcium, builds bone mass, and prevents bone loss; vitamin C helps your body repair tissue.) More studies are needed before this approach can be generally rec- ommended as a treatment for os- teoarthritis. Make sure you get enough calcium, which will strengthen your bones and help prevent osteoporosis. Consult your doctor to see if a vitamin sup- plement is right for you.
6. Take your medication as directed
No matter what kind of arthri- tis you have, medications can help ease your pain. Some people need nothing more than an occasional over-the-counter pain reliever, like acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen. Others need prescrip- tion medicine to alleviate their symptoms or slow the progression of the disease. These are powerful medications, though, so ask your doctor for side effects you should be aware of, and immediately re- port any that you experience to your doctor.
Warnings have been issued about naproxen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that some people use for arthritis pain. Re- searchers at the National Institutes of Health were conducting a study to determine whether the drug could be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, but the study was halted after findings showed that patients who took naproxen were 50 per- cent more likely to have heart at- tacks or strokes. The Food and Drug Administration has advised people who take the drug to talk with their doctors about it.
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