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If you suffer from arthritis, you might be looking back at your life wondering if you could have done anything to prevent it. You might also be looking forward wondering if you can do anything to treat it. Your arthritis doctor in Ocala, Florida, understands that arthritis is a health condition that is as misunderstood as it is painful. Here are some important things that every person needs to know about arthritis to understand how to prevent it or treat it. There Are Different Types of Arthritis One reason that arthritis is so misunderstood is that there are literally over 100 different types of arthritis. The 2 most common types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is more common, affecting about 27 million people in the United States, over half of whom are women. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints all over the body, whereas osteoarthritis involves inflammation of the joints surrounding the most weight bearing joints. Arthritis Affects People of All Ages Many people who start to experience severe joint pain are hesitant to attribute this to the possibility of arthritis. However, the fact is that over half of the people diagnosed with arthritis are under the age of 65. Although those between the ages of 40 and 65 are most likely to be diagnosed with arthritis, it can also affect people who are younger than 40. Arthritis often occurs after an injury, but it is also due to genetics and obesity also causes arthritis due to increased weight and pressure on a person’s joints. Cracking Your Knuckles Does Not Cause Arthritis If you have historically cracked your knuckles, then rest assured that this nervous habit did not cause your arthritis. Although cracking knuckles does not cause arthritis, you should consider stopping to preserve the dexterity in your hands, which will increase the swelling in your hands and reduce your ability to grip. If you are cracking your knuckles, relieving stress in your life can help you quit as well as reduce the symptoms of arthritis, which are often aggravated by stress. Arthritis Is Treatable with Diet Changes Many people with arthritis will throw their hands up in despair, thinking that arthritis is something they will have to suffer with forever. While arthritis is not curable, it is highly treatable. There are some life changes that you can make that will significantly reduce arthritis pain and ease its other symptoms. One of these changes involves diet. You can incorporate some foods into your diet that will significantly reduce the symptoms of arthritis. Some of these foods include those that contain omega-3 fatty acids, such as ginger, turmeric, salmon, and other cold-water fish. Omega-3 fatty acids are known to reduce inflammation and so you should limit those foods that increase inflammation. Foods that are known to increase inflammation, and therefore trigger arthritis symptoms, include prepackaged and processed foods, and any other foods that contain partially hydrogenated and polyunsaturated vegetable oils. Arthritis Is Treatable with Exercise Although you might not be feeling like moving at all when your joints are aching, exercise is actually one of the most helpful things that you can do to treat your arthritis. Experts will suggest that when you exercise, you should stop as soon as you start to experience pain, but as an arthritis sufferer, you probably know that any exercise, even walking, can cause a lot of pain. However, exercise remains the best way to treat your symptoms than anything else. Talk to your arthritis doctor in Ocala, Florida, about things that you can do that will treat and not exacerbate your symptoms. Make sure you take a pain reliever prior to your exercise, warm up appropriately, and cool down by icing your joints afterwards.
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