Nine million people in the UK suffer from arthritis, a debilitating condition that causes painful inflammation of the joints. Daily wellbeing is affected, as sufferers struggle to complete everyday tasks, and mental wellness can be adversely affected too as those afflicted with the condition can become depressed due to the effects of living with chronic pain.
There are some recognisable causes of arthritis, though, plus factors which are known to make the condition worse, so there are things that you can do to help mitigate it as much as possible.
Stress can be a contributor to arthritis. When we are stressed, we tense up our muscles, making the pain of arthritis significantly worse. In addition to this, stress causes the inhibition of endorphins in the human body. These are the ‘feel good’ or ‘happy’ hormones, and are also the body’s natural pain relief. When you are stressed out and anxious, you may be far more likely to suffer badly from arthritis as you will feel the pain more acutely.
Some medications can also contribute to arthritis, such as metformin, used to treat diabetes. In addition to this, a lack of vitamin D in the body can have a profound effect on arthritis. Vitamin D makes the soft tissues and bones of the human body much stronger. It can be taken in a supplement form if you are not getting enough in your diet.
Inactivity can contribute to arthritis. It is a vicious cycle, as many people who have a degree of arthritis avoid moving their joints due to the pain that this causes them, but then the lack of mobility actually makes the arthritis a whole lot worse. Gentle, regular exercise is the best way to help keep arthritis at bay.
Being overweight is also a major factor in why you might develop arthritis, as carrying around extra pounds of body fat every day puts a tremendous strain on your joints and bones and can cause them to hurt a lot more.
Comments are closed.