Although the days are shorter and the temperatures are colder, many people love the peaceful quietness and beauty the winter months can bring. Who doesn’t love spending a quiet and cozy night in watching the fireplace roar and the snow falling? If you’re living with joint pain, however, the winter months can be unkind in terms of pain. Luckily there are ways to soothe joint pain when the mercury drops so you can enjoy the season to its fullest. Here are some tips according to NDTV to consider.
1. Keep yourself warm
Dressing appropriately by covering yourself top to bottom with proper layers, can help you keep warm and reduce debilitating joint pain. Wear gloves and extra layers on your knees and legs to keep them warm and protected. Wearing multiple layers protects you from fluctuations in temperature.
2. Keep yourself well-hydrated
Well, this is an important step in all seasons. Drinking sufficient water can prevent muscle cramps, keep your immunity in check and also prevent incidence of diseases. Drinking water can help you be more active. Also, even mild dehydration can make you more sensitive to pain so make sure your water intake is optimum. Apart from drinking water, you can also include chicken soups, bone broth, vegetable soups, bone broth, etc. in your diet to keep your hydration in check.
3. Maintain a healthy weight
Being overweight or obese can make you feel lazier and less active. An effective way to deal with arthritis pain is by keeping yourself active and also losing weight if required. Make sure you exercise regularly. Include both cardio and weight training exercises in your routine. They will keep you warm and prevent worsening of arthritis symptoms. If going to the gym in cold weather seems too difficult a task, then exercise indoors. The idea is to not skip exercising for better management of arthritis.
4. Take warm baths
There is nothing more comforting than a warm bath in winter. Warm baths can provide relief to arthritis patients, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Warm baths can relax your muscles and help you feel calm. Just don't step directly into the cold after taking the bath. Your body needs some time to normalise temperature after a warm bath. Cover yourself properly before you come out of the bathroom. Similarly, you can also opt for warm compresses to deal with worsened joint pain.
5. Get some Vitamin D
Low levels of Vitamin D in the body can make you more sensitive to pain, especially in winter. Vitamin D deficiency also puts you at risk of osteoporosis. It is recommended to spend some time under the sun. Anything from 15 minutes to half an hour can help your body synthesize some amount of the sunshine vitamin. Besides, include Vitamin D-rich foods like eggs, mushrooms, fatty fish, milk and milk products in your diet. You can also opt for supplements, but only under the supervision of your doctor.
Joint pain and winter usually don’t pair well together, but with these tips you can live a healthy and pain-free life throughout the year.
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