Arthritis affects people all over the world. It may first appear to be a small discomfort, though it will most likely grow into something larger, and may stop you from doing things you love and completing day to day tasks. Read the following tips to find out how you can prevent arthritis from taking over your life.

Talk to your doctor before you try and change how you take your medications. Some medications work more slowly than others, and other medications could have side effects if they are discontinued quickly.

Don’t get around cigarette smoke, and quit smoking if you smoke. Nicotine slows blood flow and can exacerbate arthritis-related inflammation. However, the reduced blood flow can also damage your joints, meaning that your arthritis will be more severe, more quickly, than if you did not smoke.

Frequent and regular exercise is essential to containing the symptoms of arthritis. A lack of exercise will cause fatigue and will ultimately result in your arthritis becoming worse. An exercise that increases flexibility is beneficial when someone has arthritis because it helps build up your motion ranges.

Are you a driver who has to deal from chronic arthritis? If so, you must understand that you can apply for handicap parking. This is not widely-known by those afflicted, suffering unnecessarily by not taking advantage of this helping hand.

Sit and stand up straight to keep joints strong. This can help keep painful symptoms at bay. Always make a conscious effort to stand up straight and not slump your shoulders while sitting. Make sure your weight is balanced on each of your legs. This helps your joints and spine align in their natural positions and feel stronger, and you may feel your arthritis pain diminishing quite rapidly.

Always ensure that you get adequate exercise, and be sure that you are getting the most beneficial kind of activity. This can help keep you healthy and fit, along with enhancing your flexibility. When you perform exercise that are low impact, they will help to prevent the inflammation of the joints, but be careful not to go overboard. If anything is painful, stop immediately.

If you can help it do not take pain-killers to deal with your pain. Many of the painkillers on the market are very addictive, and will only help temporarily relieve pain. If you do decide to take painkillers, make sure that you take them exactly as prescribed.

Women who suffer from arthritis should not wear high heels. Attractive, high heels seriously damage your feet. They tend to cause a twisting pressure on your knees, which can only aggravate the arthritis in these crucial, complicated joints. Try wearing comfortable shoes so that you can diminish your arthritis pain. Your feet and legs will be grateful.

A cane offers great support. A lot of people afflicted with arthritis resist using a cane out vanity and the stigma of having a disability. Many times using a cane will alleviate your pain and be able to do things you couldn’t do without one. Look for a cane with some personality to feel better about carrying one.

Don’t hesitate to use items that compensate for your limitations or that help you get things done. If lifting heavy objects or you need to stand a long time, take precautions to protect the joints from extra pressure to avoid further damaging them. Additional damage to your joints can cause extreme pain and the best treatment is to prevent the damage in the first place.

Many low impact activities, such as swimming or walking, can be quite helpful in relieving some of the joint pain associated with arthritis. Consult your doctor before you begin any exercise program.

Let your friends and loved ones in on how you’re dealing with arthritis. Your friends and family will better understand how arthritis affects you, and even be able to provide advice. If they know that you are suffering, they will have more compassion for you.

It can be very helpful to use a journal or diary. By keeping track of daily pain levels and events, you may discover patterns that will reveal how certain events will trigger flare-ups. Make sure you also take note of time of day, weather conditions and location to find other natural causes for your symptoms.

Water aerobics and swimming can be wonderful activities to participate in if you have been diagnosed with arthritis. They help stretch muscles out and they are also quite soothing when the temperature of the water is fairly high. Joining a swim class is a good idea if you are not aware of how to do that.

Stop Smoking

Stop smoking if you want to reduce the swelling and pain caused by arthritis. Research has indicated that smokers have more issues with joint swelling and pain related to arthritis than nonsmokers. If you are a smoker, and want to see your symptoms improve, consider quitting. It can be hard to stop smoking on your own, but your physician can prescribe medication that may help you to quit.

Sit on your thighs and use your hands to push down. Doing so makes this task simpler, and prevents you from being required to use your aching fingers.

This may not be a cure for arthritis, but these simple daily changes can result in stopping some of the common causes for the issue. Many people develop the problem because of everyday things, such as posture or the way they walk. With this article, you can begin to change these activities into something that can, instead, shield your joints from a lifetime of pain.