Karen

The older you get, the more knee and finger joints feel more like creaky rusted door hinges than working lubricated joints, especially if you suffer from arthritis. While some symptoms associated with osteoarthritis may inevitable, let’s look at how to reduce the pain of osteoarthritis.

What is arthritis?

Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of joint cartilage and is commonly associated with aging. The symptoms that it produces range from joint pain and stiffness to swelling and loss of flexibility. There’s no cure for osteoarthritis since you cannot reverse joint cartilage degeneration. You can, however, treat it.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a very different type of arthritis and is an autoimmune disorder. While some of these tips might prove helpful for RA, you will want to seek medical help if you suspect you have RA as it can affect organs ranging from your kidneys to your heart, as well as your eyes, nerves, bone marrow, and more.  It may even cause weight loss, so if you’re suddenly seeing the scale drop without reason, make an appointment with your doctor.

Treatment options for osteoarthritis

If you know for certain that arthritis symptoms you’re experiencing is that of osteoarthritis, you have a handful of treatment options to explore. Some of these will offer immediate reduction in pain and stiffness, while others may take weeks or months to see a real improvement.

Use CBD Oil to Reduce Pain of Osteoarthritis

In an earlier blog, it was mentioned that CBD oil can be a fantastic option to relieve some of the pain associated with arthritis, and may reduce inflammation over time. If you are looking for a remedy to start working within a week or two, CBD can be an ideal treatment. Before you start Googling it, yes, CBD is federally legal in the United States since it is a hemp-based product. THC, on the other hand, is still federally illegal to consume. There is evidence from a 2017 study that consuming CBD is a safe and helpful way to treat osteoarthritis.

Further anecdotal evidence suggests that the pain associated with osteoarthritis can be combated with the appropriate level of CBD. If you’re not sure what CBD oil to purchase for your joint pain, contact a local vape shop, or online manufacturer, to see how you could use CBD for pain. (And don’t worry, since CBD is not THC, you won’t feel any type of high when you consume it.)

Lose weight

While not glamorous or an over-night treatment, losing weight can be a substantial relief on arthritis if you are overweight. Reducing the weight on your weight-bearing joints, especially hips and knees, can help prevent arthritis from becoming worse. You’ll also notice other benefits if you are able to reduce your body weight, such as a cardiovascular improvement. Excess fat tissue also produces proteins that increase inflammation around your joints, which directly exacerbates arthritis symptoms.

Change your diet to reduce pain of osteoarthritis

Even if you do not need to lose weight, your arthritis symptoms may decrease if you switch out certain foods for healthier options. There are six foods that are directly related to flare-ups of arthritis, including sugar, excess sodium, fried foods, white flour, omega-6 fatty acids, and dairy. While this might at first glance seem limiting, with a little creativity, you can find some options to have a fun diet without adding to your joint pain.

Physical therapy

If your knees are feeling joint pain and stiffness, you would likely benefit from physical therapy. Your doctor can recommend a local physical therapist to help you improve your mobility and lessen your pain and stiffness while also teaching you various ways to perform tasks differently, such as sitting, standing, or going up stairs. By implementing new ways of performing old tasks, you’ll reduce the pressure on your knees or hips. Once you go to a couple sessions with a professional physical therapist, you’ll be able to do many of the exercises at home.

Some physical therapists may have you do hydrotherapy, which allows for gentle movements in water to help loosen your joints. If you’ve recently stopped working out because of associated pain, you may want to join a local pool. Swimming is one of the easiest exercises on your joints, and incredibly healthy for your heart and lungs. If possible, opt for a swimming pool that is heated since this will help with mobility.

Talk to your doctor

If you are finding that you’ve exhausted your resources, and are still not finding any relief from pain and stiffness, you’ll want to talk to your doctor about other options including pain killers, cold and heat therapy, acupuncture or even discuss taking Cymbalta, an antidepressant that has shown to reduce pain of osteoarthritis symptoms.

There are few things that can be as detrimental to your enjoyment of a good summer quite as much as a seasonal allergy. In most cases, this means dealing with hay fever, also known as an allergy to either tree or flower pollen, or seasonal allergic rhinitis. Take a look at what you need to know to beat seasonal allergies and a few methods on preventing and managing your symptoms as best as possible.

How allergies work

First of all, we have to know that when we’re talking about allergies, we’re not just talking about one kind of illness. For the rest of this article, we are largely going to cover seasonal allergic rhinitis, aka hay fever, which is what we typically mean when talking about seasonal allergies. However, all kinds of allergies work due to the fact that the immune system recognizes an allergen (a substance that originates externally from the body) and over-reacts to it. Most allergens are not noxious, but rather it’s the immune response that causes the symptoms that cause so much trouble.

 Symptoms of allergies

The different types of allergies can come with different symptoms, as well. For instance, some allergies, like those caused by fleas, ticks, and other insect bites, can result in localized swelling, itchiness, and pain. In most cases sneezing, a runny or blocked nose and itchy, red, watery eyes are the most common symptoms, particularly prevalent in seasonal allergies. Other symptoms can include wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, rashes and hives, swollen lips, tongue, eyes or face, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, and dry, red or cracked skin. If a person is prone to experiencing the more severe symptoms, then it may be recommended they have regular access to treatments such as epipens that can calm down the body’s immune response. For a lot of people, allergy symptoms are going to be bothersome and perhaps painful, but nowhere near as severely threatening.

 Know what you’re dealing with

As mentioned, you will notice that different types of allergies tend to come with different symptoms, as well as different levels of severity. For that reason, it’s crucial to make sure that you know which allergy you’re dealing with. Hay fever is not the only allergy more common in the summer. Insects, pet dander, certain foods, and other types of allergens are all more likely to affect people in the spring and summer as well. Learn how to get an allergy test so you can pinpoint what, precisely, is causing any symptoms of allergies you might be experiencing. Only then can you accurately begin to take the steps to beat seasonal allergies from disrupting your life as much.

What else could it be?

If you have hay fever but you haven’t had any exposure to pollen or other allergens, or if you have been tested and seem to have no allergies at all, then you should be aware that other summertime sicknesses can be easy to confuse with it. For instance, cold and virus symptoms can be very similar to allergic reactions. Infections such as enteroviruses are a lot more common during the summer. If you have any aches in the body or a fever, then it’s more likely to be some sort of infection. If any symptoms last longer than a week, it’s worth getting it checked out, no matter what it might be.

 Control the pollen count in the air

If you have confirmed that you are, indeed, dealing with hay fever, aka seasonal allergic rhinitis, then you should be aware that’s exposure to pollen that is the big problem. In the summer, it might feel like there’s nothing more refreshing than letting the breeze in through the home. However, this breeze will carry any pollen that is in the air directly into your home. Check the local weather report to see if pollen is high in your area today. If it is, close the windows and doors. If you have an air conditioning system, a HEPA filter will be able to catch all kinds of airborne particulates, including pollen, making sure that they are not spread throughout the home.

Get to know your medication early

There is a range of medical treatments for allergic reactions to pollen. Again, knowing whether you’re allergic to tree pollen, flower pollen, or something else is crucial in making sure that you’re taking the right stuff. There are over-the-counter medications, but it’s usually worth getting the advice of your doctor to see which seasonal allergy medications are right for you. Regardless of which ones you have to take, if you can safely take it early, then you probably should. If you know seasonal allergies are coming up, then taking your medication a month in advance can make sure that the medicine is already working through your system by the time the allergies are starting to flare up. This is a great way to beat seasonal allergies.

Don’t bring pollen home with you

When you go outside, try to go out when the pollen count is at its lowest. Pollen counts tend to be the highest in the morning and in the evening, so keeping trips to around noon might be safest. However, you may still bring pollen with you on your clothes. As such, change clothes and get them washed in hot water as soon as you get inside the house. Similarly, you will want to take a shower. Pollen can also get trapped in bed sheets over time so you should be washing and replacing them with fresh sheets every week. Be sure to keep your home free of dust, as well. Pollen often gets trapped in dust which also contains other allergens that make your symptoms worse.

Wear a respirator mask when you go outside

If you’re reading this at the time of publishing, then there is already a debate raging around masks and many people will have a very good reason to wear one. However, in most cases, the DIY and basic masks that are worn to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are not going to be very effective at preventing allergy symptoms. If you’re outside when there’s a high pollen count, or you’re taking care of the yard or vacuuming, then you want to specifically find an N95 respirator mask. Many masks will prevent you from spreading your germs, but respirator masks are specifically designed to block small particles from entering the body. They don’t offer 100% protection (nothing does) but they are highly effective and can help beat seasonal allergies.

Clear your system

One of the most common complaints when dealing with any respiratory allergy is just how congested they can make you feel. Your nose and airways may be full of mucus and feel like they are sealed shut which can be uncomfortable, especially when you’re trying to sleep. You can help clear away this mucus, as well as the allergens then get stuck to your nasal membranes, lessening the immune response in this part of the body. The best way to do this is with a saline nasal rinse, such as by using a Neti pot. Similarly, if you have a sore throat, gargling salt water can help clear those symptoms, too. It might not be the most pleasant treatment, but saltwater is great at cleansing.

Beware other allergens

If you have hay fever, you are also more susceptible to developing other ear, nose, and throat-based allergies. As mentioned, you want to keep dust to a minimum in your home, but you also want to limit your exposure to other airborne allergens. Indoor and outdoor mold is another of the most common allergies, and keeping the home well ventilated and wiping down any standing water is the best way to prevent it. A dehumidifier can be especially useful in the summer. Similarly, you want to limit your exposure to pet dander. If you don’t have a pet, then you shouldn’t get one. If you do have a pet, then make sure they can’t freely relax and rest in your bedroom or on your bed.

Know when to rest

A lot of people learn to live with their allergy symptoms. Even with all of the steps above, they can sometimes get the best of you and make your day at least a little worse. However, you shouldn’t simply ignore them if nothing else works. If you have a headache or nasal congestion, don’t think of it as just a niggling side-effect of your allergies. They can take a serious toll, especially if you try to work past them. If you’re feeling sick, then take a sick day. Get in bed, stay hydrated, and take care of yourself. Overworking will only make things worse in any case.

What’s most important of all, when dealing with allergies, is that you know precisely what you’re dealing with. If you haven’t had your allergies diagnosed yet, or if they have been diagnosed but seem to have changed from one year to another, don’t skip getting an allergy test. Otherwise, you may have allergies you don’t know about and aren’t protecting yourself from, making you even more susceptible to symptoms. Hopefully these suggestions will help you beat seasonal allergies, and have a great summer.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are far-reaching. This crisis has changed the way we live. Most states and countries have stay-at-home or quarantine orders for safety reasons. These orders can make people feel isolated and add more stress. There are ways to relieve stress while staying safe at home.

Exercise:

Physical activity is a great option to  relieve stress. Exercise releases endorphins in the brain which improve our moods naturally. Being active also can help with weight loss or maintenance. Seeing physical changes and feeling the improved moods will show firsthand why exercise is helpful. There is no set in stone way to exercise, so it’s adaptable to each individual’s needs and interests. There is a myriad of ways to incorporate more physical activity into daily life.

Healthy Eating:

One of the most beneficial tips for how to destress during these difficult times is implementing a healthy diet. The foods people consume impact their health in numerous ways. Healthy eating has been shown to have positive effects on mood as well as helping to manage or even prevent some chronic diseases. Eating properly can improve people’s quality of life immensely.

Get Adequate Sleep To Relieve Stress:

Sleep is one of the most important things humans need for their optimal well-being. It’s still up for debate exactly what the purpose of sleep is, but it’s clear brain function suffers without it. Stress and sleep can produce a self-perpetuating cycle where stress causes insomnia and insomnia causes stress. Implementing bedtime rituals and making proper sleep a priority will make it much easier to handle the daily stresses and curve balls life can bring. Being well-rested brings improved moods and clearer thinking among other benefits.

Creativity:

Delving into a creative hobby or picking one back up could be a prudent way to help relieve stress during this time. Creativity has been shown to make people happier, reduce levels of stress, and keep the brain active. Choosing to begin writing, painting, sculpting, or any other creative endeavor might be a key part of coping with stress in life. Creation switches the mind into a different mode and distracts from negative thoughts. Also, there is a sense of satisfaction after having made something beautiful.

Relaxation Techniques Help To Relieve Stress:

There are numerous relaxation techniques like yoga, breath work, or progressive relaxation which have been used for generations to help people feel better and cope with the demands and trials of life. Yoga has been shown as a quite effective stress-relieving option for people throughout the ages. Besides their mental health benefits, yoga and tai chi can improve balance and fitness as well as helping with muscle tone when used consistently.

Time Management:

A significant number of people have begun working from home. Taking work home in the most literal sense can in and of itself cause stress. Trying to balance work obligations, family obligations, and have time to attend to personal needs can be a large obstacle to overcome. Time management has been shown to be quite effective as a means of reducing stress. Having boundaries and consistent schedules lifts some of the chaos and pressure and enables us to bounce from one realm of life to another. Work, family, and individual needs can be met more easily when time management becomes a priority.

This time is not easy, but there are ways to help get through it. Implementing some or all of these ideas will help relieve stress and allow things to go more smoothly at home.