8 Awesome Arthritis Self Care Tips

Self-care is necessary for everyone to live a healthy and productive life, but if you are living with arthritis, self-care is even more important. We compiled a list of eight awesome arthritis self-care tips that will get you through (or even prevent) those difficult days.

1. Sleep Early

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) typically causes poor sleep. Pain makes falling and remaining asleep difficult, and lack of sleep worsens the pain. Sleeplessness may cause melancholy and weariness. Most PsA sleep issues are due to worry and uncontrolled symptoms.

Take your medications as prescribed.
Late-night caffeine is bad.
Before bed, avoid screens.
Daytime exercise.
If these tips fail, see a doctor.

2. Hydrate

Hydration is important for healthy cartilage, which protects the ends of your bones and keeps them from rubbing. British Medical Bulletin revealed 65 to 80% of cartilage contains water. When hydrated, bone friction is minimized, allowing for easier movement.

Imagine cartilage as a sponge. Wet sponges are soft and simple to manage. It’s stiff and hard to use when dry. The Mayo Clinic lists these dehydration symptoms:

Headache
Fainting or dizziness
Thirst
Cramps
Dark-colored urine
Urinating less frequently
Confusion
Sleepiness
Dry skin or mouth

3. Stretch & Rest

Stretching aims to retain all joint movements. Slowly extend your fingers apart to stretch the arthritis. Larger joints follow the same technique. Psoriatic arthritis is a systemic sickness that may affect several organs; hence it’s also termed psoriatic disease.

Rest and don’t overdo it to avoid injury. Stretching makes arthritis patients uncomfortable, but It’s good to be uncomfortable. Too much is dangerous, though.

4. Move Any Way You Can

Physical exercise helps with most PsA symptoms.

Reduces inflammation.
Strengthens your bones.
It is good for your heart and lungs.
Relieves pain.
Improves your mood and sleep.
Helps with weight loss.
Keeps joints mobile.

Exercising won’t hurt your joints or produce extra discomfort. You don’t need to perform tai chi or walk. There are few activities that are off-limits for arthritic folks. Thirty minutes of exercise most days, and weight training twice a week is a good place to start. If you haven’t exercised in a while, see a physical therapist or trainer.