These Products can Help you Cope with Arthritis

There are more than 100 types of arthritis and conditions related to arthritis with the most commonly known being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The former is a condition that occurs when the cartilage in your joints wears down, causing friction between bones moving against each other. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks the lining of your joints. In both cases, painful swelling and stiff joints can occur. Although rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age, it commonly appears with age, like osteoarthritis, and older adults often live with one or the other condition. Arthritis can make life difficult because it often affects small joints in your hands and toes. Performing everyday tasks is a little more complicated if you cannot move your fingers deftly. However, there are many products out there that can help make life easier when you have arthritis.

Gloves or Wraps

Hands are often a target for the conditions, making it difficult to do anything. Arthritis gloves provide compression and some offer heat, reducing the pain of swollen joints.

Hot or Cold Compress

Heat provided by heating pads, hot packs, hot showers or other means, get your blood flowing to the area that is hurting, reducing some of the discomfort. Conversely, cold packs constrict blood vessels, which can decrease inflammation and help numb some pain.

Pain Medication

NSAIDs like Advil and ibuprofen are typical arthritis pain relievers. The medications are available over the counter in oral and topical forms.

Exercise

Contrary to what you might want to do, moving your joints can help with long-term relief and can improve strength.

Walkers

Although arthritis may start in smaller joints, it can certainly affect knees and hips, too. This may make walking more difficult. Canes and standard or rolling walkers help alleviate the pressure put on those joints.

Medical Alert Monitoring Service

According to the CDC, adults with arthritis are more likely to fall and have an injury than those who do not have arthritis. Even if you take precautions to avoid falls, they may happen. Wearing a personal help button thatyou can press to call help at any time is critical to living independently.