There are many treatments, techniques and medications available to help you manage your condition and reduce the effects of its painful symptoms, oftentimes in a manner that promotes your overall health and slows or prevents further joint degeneration. You will be able to learn how to adequately deal with your arthritis after you have read this article.

Be sure to get enough exercise and that you are doing the right kinds of exercise. People with arthritis should choose exercises that support and strengthen the joints, such as swimming, instead of exercises that damage them, such as running. Failing to exercise can also increase joint stiffness and pain.

Watch out for co-morbid condition, especially depression. Arthritis and depression can lock you into a feedback loop: you're tired and in pain, so you can't do the things you love, which makes you more upset. Being upset then leads to symptom flare-ups. If you think you are depressed, speak with your doctor about a referral to a psychiatrist.

It is important that you quit smoking if you suffer from arthritis. It is a proven medical fact that smoking can make your arthritis symptoms worse. Also, if you smoke and you are taking medications to control your arthritis symptoms, smoking can actually decrease the positive effects of these medications.

If you are a woman who suffers from arthritis in your back, you may want to think about changing what bras you wear. Believe it or not, certain bras can make your arthritis worse by putting pressure on your back. There are actually bras that are made just for women with arthritis.

Take the time to learn about your condition and keep track of new advances in the science of treating arthritis. Join an online community of people suffering from arthritis and share advice and tips with them. Ask your doctor any question you have about your condition. Knowledge is key in living with your arthritis.

Increase the amount of vegetables you consume, and reduce the amount of meat. Vegetarian diets have been proven to be much better for arthritis sufferers than eating a diet with meat. If you find it hard to take meat completely out of your diet, you should try to have vegetables on at least half of your plate in order to reap the same benefits.

It's great to have a good knowledge of what arthritis is and how to treat it, but until you start to implement what you know you'll never find relief. Use this tips as a starting point on your journey to combat your arthritis.