Do you battle arthritis pain during winters, and feel the chill in your bones?

During the winter season, arthritic joint pains and stiffened muscles are the most common health problem troubling many people, especially the older generation. There is a 50% spike in the number of senior citizens seeking treatment for bone and joint problems during winters.*

What is Arthritis?

The word arthritis literally means inflammation of a joint.

Arthritis Symptoms:

Chronic joint pain, tenderness, stiffness, redness & swelling of the joints with deformed joints and feverishness are common symptoms.

So, why does Arthritis flare up in winter?**

1. During the winters, the pain receptors become hypersensitive

2. The joint tension increases and causes pain during the fall of barometric pressure during winter

3. Cold temperatures increase muscle stiffness also

4. The cold reduces the blood circulation to the fingers and toes, amplifying arthritis pain.

5. Less sunlight during winters means lower vitamin D levels & leads to weakened bones and joints

How to manage and endure the symptoms of Osteoarthritis in the winter?^^

Keep moving:

1. Keep yourself active & watch your weight

2. Include cardio & weight training exercises in your routine life to keep you warm & prevent

3. worsening of arthritis symptoms

4. It is a big misconception that exercise can make your arthritis worse
Get some Vitamin D:

1. Vitamin-D deficiency can make you more sensitive to pain and enhance osteoporosis risk

2. 15 to 30 minutes of sun exposure can help your body synthesise some Vit-D amount

3. Include Vitamin D-rich foods like eggs, mushrooms, fatty fish, milk & milk products in your diet
Dress warm:

1. Dressing up appropriately by covering yourself top to bottom with proper layers can help you keep warm & reduce debilitating joint pain
Take warm baths:

1. Warm baths can provide relief to arthritis patients
Increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids:

1. Omega-3 fatty acids are highly beneficial in reducing the inflammation level in your joints

2. Include avocado, flax seeds (alsi), walnuts & small-fish in your diet

Sources:
*https://bit.ly/30APTuR
^^https://bit.ly/3HOsgzI
**https://bit.ly/3I0Lbau