Arthritis Self-Management

Changing your habits and lifestyle isn’t easy, but even small changes — such as using coupons to save money on healthful foods, keeping up with vaccinations and screening tests, and adding short bouts of physical activity to your day — can reap big rewards, especially when you add them up over time. To get you started, here are 100 tips for a happier, healthier, wealthier life.

If you have no problem getting to sleep, staying asleep, or waking up rested, consider yourself lucky. For many people with arthritis, pain, stiffness, and stress contribute to sleep problems, which can leave them feeling tired and groggy and put them at higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other serious health problems. Fortunately, there are strategies that can help you sleep better.

It's easy to think a chair is just a chair, but a chair you use a lot can affect your spine, joints, legs, and arms. At home or at work, most people spend a significant amount of time sitting, and having the right (or wrong) chair can make a big difference in your quality of life. So much depends on the seat you're in, and it's not just a question of comfort — It's a matter of health.

Sleep is vital to staying happy, healthy, and alert. But rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic pain conditions can make it harder to sleep, and make what sleep you do get less restful. There are some things you can do to make sure you get the best snooze possible.

People with arthritis may find it increasingly difficult to care for their teeth and gums. Stiff and achy joints can make using a toothbrush and flossing trickier, and some types of arthritis can actually increase the risk of gum disease. Fortunately, there are ways to make effective oral care easier.

People often use the phrase “quality of life” as a catchall term without having a good idea of what it means. Use of such familiar language may seem to make for effective communication (surely we all know what a good quality of life is), but it may not do justice to how profoundly arthritis can change your circumstances.

Having multiple health concerns is the rule rather than the exception for people with arthritis. If you've got diabetes, high blood pressure, or another chronic condition, not only do you need to keep those problems in check, but you also need to do so while avoiding negative interactions with your other conditions and treatments. Luckily, many of the things you can do to manage your arthritis can help you keep a lid on your other conditions as well.