According to SRL Diagnostics’ laboratory examination of arthritis tests performed there are about 180 million cases of arthritis in India. Now, you get an idea that arthritis is more prevalent than AIDS.
Moreover, most people believe that arthritis is an old age disease, but that is far from the truth. You have to understand that for most types of arthritis, there is no cure; however, there are plenty of ways to relieve it.
In this article, we will see all the practical tips to get relief from arthritis pain naturally. However, before we dive into the valuable information, let’s understand the definition of arthritis.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis refers to a wide range of conditions that include pain, stiffness, and inflammation of the joints, which can worsen as you age. In other words, arthritis is a joint pain or joint disease.
So, according to the number of cases of arthritis in senior citizens across India, it is forecasted that by 2050, the number of people who have arthritis will reach about 96.7 million.
Types of Arthritis
There are two types of arthritis. It includes
1. Osteoarthritis (OA)
It is a wear and tear of cartilage that causes bones to rub together, leading to friction, damage, and inflammation.
In 1990, about 23.46 million individuals in India suffered from OA, which tremendously increased to 62.35 million in 2019. In India, Osteoarthritis is the second most frequent joint disease in the country, with a prevalence of 22 percent to 39 percent.
2. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-
It is an autoimmune disease when your immune system mistakenly attacks your healthy joint tissue.
According to a 2021 news report, about 1.3 crore people in India had rheumatoid arthritis.
9 Effective Tips to Get Relief from Arthritis Pain Naturally
According to Dr Biren Nadkarni, a Senior Orthopedic Consultant and Joint Replacement Surgeon from Sitaram Bhartia Institute and Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, suggested that people should take simple precautions to stop the disease from developing and affecting their lives.
Moreover, he added that we should maintain a lifestyle that includes exercise and a nutritious, balanced diet to lower the risk of these types of arthritis.
Let’s look at some of the activities you can take to get relief from arthritis pain naturally!
1. Being Active
Physical exercise is the best way to relieve arthritis. Moreover, being active means you don’t depend on other drugs for relief. It will help reduce pain and improve function, mood, and even quality of life.
So, regularly exercising can improve your sleep and even support your bone and brain health, and control your weight. Being active will reduce any risk of developing other chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.
You can do exercises like
- Walking
- Cycling
- Water Activities
2. Acupuncture
Well, it is an ancient Chinese medical treatment that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on your body. However no studies have backed this theory, but it is believed to reduce arthritis pain, and you can even go ahead with ACR/AF. However, when it comes to acupuncture, find a certified and licensed acupuncture practitioner to help you with this treatment.
3. Managing Your Weight
Not many people pay attention to weight, but your weight can significantly impact your arthritis. It means gaining extra weight can put pressure on your joints, knees, hips, and feet, leading to more joint pain.
To fight off arthritis pain naturally, seek medical advice to help you design a weight loss program to help you maintain a healthy weight.
4. Following a Healthy Diet
Are you suffering from arthritis pain?
Another way to get relief from arthritis pain naturally is to go ahead with a rich diet that includes fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole foods. Eating fresh veggies, fruits, etc, can help boost your immune system and overall health.
So, go for a plant-based diet as they are known for their antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation and eliminate the body’s free radicals.
Also, if you have arthritis, avoid red meat, processed foods, saturated fat, and food that adds sugar and salt.
5. Getting Massage
A massage from a professional can help manage joint pain and discomfort. So, seek advice from your physician to recommend you the type of massage to get from experience massage therapist who are professional in treating people with arthritis.
6. Use hot and cold therapy
Another effective way to get relief from arthritis pain naturally is to use hot and cold therapy.
Heat treatment means you can take a warm bath, especially in the morning, to help ease your joint stiffness. And during the night, you can use an electric blanket or moist heating pad to reduce discomfort.
Going ahead with cold treatment will help in relieving your joint pain, swelling, and inflammation. So, wrap a gel ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables in a towel and try to apply it to those painful areas to get instant relief. Also, avoid using ice directly on it.
7. Trying Herbal Supplements
Incorporating herbal supplements into your diet can help reduce your joint ache.
You can try herbs like
- Boswellia
- Bromelain
- Ginkgo
- Stinging nettle
However, before you try a new supplement, make sure to consult with your physician.
8. Meditation
Another effective way to get relief from arthritis pain naturally is to meditate or do mindful breathing. It will help reduce the pain in your joints by lowering stress and enabling you to cope better.
Stress can impact how you cope with pain, so reducing your stress can help lower inflammation and pain.
According to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study, it is found that practicing mindfulness meditation is helpful for some people with RA.
9. Add Turmeric to Dishes
Haldi or turmeric has a chemical called curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. So, it is believed that it can bring relief to your chronic pain.
So, let’s see what research has to say about this. According to a study conducted on rats by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, it is found that adding turmeric to their food shows a reduction of inflammation in their joints.
Conclusion
To conclude, this chronic ache is not an age disease but it can worsen as you age. However, it is not a curable disease, but you can take controllable measures to prevent it. So, follow these practical steps to get relief from arthritis naturally.
Also, be sure to seek your physician’s advice before you go ahead with it!
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