ADVICE FROM DR. ARTHRITIS: DROP THESE BAD HABITS TO MANAGE YOUR ARTHRITIS BETTER

Staying up too late, eating too much junk food, skipping workouts—it’s likely you don’t even notice just how often you do these things and how it can really get in the way of living a healthy lifestyle.

But paying closer attention to your daily routines and identifying bad habits means you can implement minor tweaks to your lifestyle to ultimately help you become healthier. This is especially relevant for those who suffer from arthritis.

Here are our top 5 bad habits that you should take note of:

1. Relying too much on the convenience of processed foods

Processed foods are generally unhealthy and can typically lead to weight gain. This is because these usually contain a lot of sugar for flavoring or white flour to make it more filling. A good rule of thumb to follow is to limit intake to less than 10 grams of sugar per serving and be more conscious of foods that are made with processed flour. This will help you feel less bloated and reduce chances of weight gain.

Try instead to munch on fruits, nuts and whole grains to replace sugary snacks and junk food.

2. Focusing too much on the pain

Arthritis is a painful condition. But understand it can be managed. It’s so easy to dwell on the chronic pain that comes with arthritis, but you need to consciously break this pattern.

It helps to use devices or tools that help manage the pain, such as compression sleeves or supports, and keeping track of your symptoms by writing it down daily. Doing so helps give you perspective and shows that the pain isn’t consistently bad.

3. Wearing uncomfortable shoes

Stiletto heels and delicate sling backs may look fabulous, but they also barely give you any support. Sensible shoes are the way to go, so keep your heels to less than 1.5 inches to reduce pressure to your knees. Similarly, you also have to avoid shoes that are too soft as they decreases the feet’s natural shock-absorbing contractions and do not provide proper cushioning and arch support.

4. Not respecting your body’s limits

If you suffer from arthritis, it can feel very limiting. As a result, you tend to do too much to prove to yourself that your condition is not preventing your from living the kind of lifestyle that you want to live. But respecting your body’s limits given your condition doesn’t mean you have to deny yourself activities that you want to indulge in, you just have to pace yourself.

Pay attention to your body’s physical cues. If you feel pain, it could be a sign that you’re doing too much and pushing yourself too hard. Take frequent rests and talk to your doctor about the best exercise regimen you should follow.

5. Not seeking support

In the same way that you want to make sure that your arthritis doesn’t affect your way of life, you also probably want to ensure that it doesn’t interfere with the people close to you. Keep in mind however that friends and family members only want the best for you and want to be supportive. And if they don’t suffer from the same condition, it’s likely they also don’t understand the gravity of what you’re going through. So the best approach is to talk to them about it. Arthritis isn’t a condition that you have to go through alone.

To browse options for compression sleeves, visit  through our Amazon link and check out our selection of sleeves and braces. All our products also come with a booklet with a detailed series of exercises designed to maintain joint health.

You may also visit our website at https://www.doctorarthritis.org and get an exclusive, limited-time only discount. Use the coupon code*: 25PROFF to get 25% off your purchase

For questions, feel free to leave a message in the comment section below, or email us at enquiry@doctorarthritis.org. You may also visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/doctorarthritis or view our YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVRAgAy847uyV8BMdynZZXg.

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