Osteoarthritis Treatment: 5 Good Habits

Although there is no definitive treatment for osteoarthritis, practicing some healthy habits can help control symptoms. Here you can find tips for treating osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that compromises the health of the joints. This disease frequently affects people over the age of 60, but it can occur at any age. This is why we provide you here with some tips for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

This disease occurs as a result of progressive damage to the joints. This deterioration can be linked to an old lesion or quite simply to the natural aging process.

Either way, the symptoms will be the same, namely pain, stiffness, and difficulty performing movements.

Although the level of disease severity can vary from patient to patient, in general, this disease affects the quality of life of all patients. Therefore, the goal of osteoarthritis treatment is to reduce the progression of the disease and control the symptoms.

Although there is no definitive cure, there are some good habits that can prevent the onset of this disease. Are you wondering what these habits are?

Today, significant advances have been made to control this disease. Treatment is based on taking certain medications such as pain relievers. But specialists recommend a few good habits to supplement treatment and relieve symptoms.

Here we bring you five good habits that help relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Don’t miss it!

1. Physical exercise is an ally in the treatment of osteoarthritis

The pain associated with osteoarthritis reduces the patient’s physical capacities when performing certain exercises. Nevertheless, it is not good to sit idly by and have a sedentary lifestyle.

Regular low-impact physical activity strengthens the muscles around the joints and thus prevents complications of the disease. In short, about twenty minutes a day of physical activity is sufficient to relieve stiffness and prevent pain attacks.

We advise you to practice gentle activities, such as walking, swimming or stretching. You can also opt for yoga or tai chi sessions  .

2. Losing weight improves treatment for osteoarthritis

Overweight and obesity are factors that can accelerate joint deterioration in patients with osteoarthritis. These two factors may even be triggers for the disease.

So, if you have osteoarthritis and are overweight, we strongly recommend that you make some effort to lose weight.

A healthy weight decreases the pressure on the joints and therefore helps control pain episodes. In addition, a healthy weight decreases the risk of other health problems, such as cardiovascular disease or metabolic syndrome.

3. The importance of sleeping well

Sometimes, osteoarthritis pain affects the quality of sleep. Despite this, it is essential to ensure that you sleep well every day: rest is key to reducing swelling and inflammation in the joints.

If you are having trouble sleeping, we recommend that you take the following tips:

• create a comfortable atmosphere in your room
• avoid using your bedroom as a workspace
• before going to bed, stay away from elements that distract before sleeping such as computers, laptops or tablets
• eat foods that promote sleep
• eat a healthy, low-calorie dinner
• drink relaxing infusions such as passionflower infusion or valerian infusion

4. Natural infusions for the treatment of osteoarthritis

Medicinal infusions are not a substitute for medication prescribed by the doctor. Nevertheless, the consumption of certain natural infusions can prove to be beneficial in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

The most recommended options are as follows, due to their anti-inflammatory properties: ginger tea, tea and turmeric tea.

5. Hot and cold therapy

Hot and cold therapy is an effective way to control the inflammatory process in inflammation. It thus helps to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

The heat helps to open up the blood vessels, thus improving blood circulation. Thanks to this action, the transport of nutrients to the affected tissues is facilitated. Also, the heat produces a calming effect which decreases stiffness.

As for the cold, the application of ice cubes compresses the blood vessels and decreases the swelling while reducing the pain. Applying cold is therefore a good option to complement the effect of heat.

What you should do

• First, apply heat to the affected area: you can opt for a hot water bottle or a thermal pad. If you don’t have either of these options at home, you can dampen a towel with warm water, being careful not to burn yourself.
• Then apply what you have chosen on the affected area for about twenty minutes. Relax.
• If you prefer to apply cold, wrap several ice cubes in a cloth or other cloth and apply it to the affected area for about twenty minutes.

Important: Avoid applying ice cubes directly to the skin, as this can be harmful. As for the heat, make sure it is bearable.

In short, osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that can get worse over time without timely treatment. This is why it is essential to control the symptoms and to carry out regular medical checks when one suspects the presence of the disease.

Combining medications with these good habits will give a more favorable prognosis.