Whether you have inflamed and painful joints, arthritis pain or inflammation, sun exposure will help a lot. No wonder why many experts prescribe sunlight to patients.
No case of arthritis is the same. The sun may trigger symptoms for one person but relieve them for another. While warmer weather can reduce joint pain, people with arthritis can experience more pain and fatigue in the warmer months because many are more active and prone to overdoing it.
Your response may also depend on the type of arthritis you have. According to Professor Karen Walker-Bone, professor of occupational rheumatology at the University of Southampton, people with osteoarthritis generally prefer warm and dry weather, while those with rheumatoid arthritis tend to prefer the cooler weather.
The researchers wrote: “improving vitamin D levels in patients may have a protective role against the development of knee osteoarthritis, especially in those patients with low BMD. Further those with more advanced knee osteoarthritis had lower vitamin D levels.
Get Physical
Physical activity is the best available treatment for OA. It's also one of the best ways to keep joints healthy in the first place.
In conclusion, an increased magnesium dietary intake is associated with a better knee cartilage architecture, also when adjusting for potential confounders, suggesting a potential role of magnesium in the prevention and treatment of knee osteoarthritis.
Applying hot or cold packs to the joints can relieve the pain and symptoms of osteoarthritis in some people. A hot-water bottle filled with either hot or cold water and applied to the affected area can be very effective in reducing pain.
This study showed that cold, damp conditions lead to elevated pain levels in people with arthritis, while dry, hot conditions tend to cause less discomfort.
Just as the effects of weather vary, the best climate may not be the same for all people. But based on research, it appears that for most people with arthritis, a warmer, drier climate may be optimal, such as that in parts of Texas, Arizona, Nevada and the Eastern Sierra region of California.
Osteoarthritic joints have low levels of aggrecan, proteoglycan, type-II collagen, and runt-related transcription factor 1(RUNX1).
Vitamin D is believed to have an immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory action, and its deficiency has been linked with several autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
While the recommended daily dose is 800 international units (IU), the American Geriatrics Association recommends at least 1,000 IU. Harvard researcher Edward Giovannucci, MD, suggests up to 2,000 IU a day. A two-year study of osteoarthritis patients found that 50,000 IU per month is safe.
If you have arthritis, summer heat and humidity can increase your joint pain and make daily activities a challenge. Many people who have arthritis feel more discomfort as the weather changes throughout the year.
The most common triggers of an OA flare are overdoing an activity or trauma to the joint. Other triggers can include bone spurs, stress, repetitive motions, cold weather, a change in barometric pressure, an infection or weight gain.
Friction would come from activities like deep knee bending or knee lunges that require you to bend and hold a knee position for an extended period. Those activities can make your knee arthritis symptoms worse, and you'll want to avoid that so the joint can calm down.
Walking is a great exercise for those with mild to moderate arthritis symptoms. Exercises for hip arthritis should be light and low-impact so as not to aggravate the condition.
There are many things you can do to help you live with osteoarthritis, including: Heat and cold therapies can reduce joint pain. Heat therapy increases blood flow, tolerance for pain, and flexibility. Cold therapy numbs the nerves around the joint to reduce pain and may relieve inflammation.
“Low-impact exercises, like walking, cycling or using an elliptical machine are smart choices,” says Dr. Zikria. “If you run, play basketball or do other high-impact activities, avoid hard surfaces and don't do it every day.” Multiple studies show that mild to moderate exercise is beneficial for people with arthritis.
The current pharmacotherapies emphasize pain and symptomatic management of the patients but do not alter the biological processes underlying the cartilage degeneration. Vitamin E is a potential agent to prevent or treat osteoarthritis due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Some studies show Epsom salt baths, otherwise known as mineral baths, increase certain cells that mediate inflammation and enhance circulation and breathing, which has an anti-inflammatory effect on patients suffering with arthritis.
Studies show that a variety of nutrients may help ease arthritis symptoms. Foods rich in vitamin C, especially fruits and vegetables, may help. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish and fish oil, may also help relieve pain. Experts say it's best to focus on healthy foods rather than on single nutrients.