3 Tips to Keep Your Bones Healthy as You Age

As we age, our bodies undergo many changes. This post will discuss how age affects the bones, augmenting this awareness with tips on keeping your bones healthy and functioning. Age-related changes in bone density and structure Loss in bone mass and density There is a gradual loss of bone mass and density as you age, which leads to an increased risk of conditions such as osteoporosis. As bones turn porous, they become fragile—often, there no symptoms until the first fracture occurs. Women who have undergone menopause are at increased risk of osteoporosis and other bone diseases. Loss of calcium Our bones also lose calcium and other minerals with age. Furthermore, the ability to retain these vital minerals also decreases as…

4 Simple Tips to Build an Ergonomic Home Office

Understandably, the time spent in front of a personal computer or a laptop has significantly increased for many people. Moreover, work from home has resulted in an increase in poor ergonomic habits. If you find yourself crouched over your laptop on the kitchen table—or in bed—these days­, it’s time to reconsider your work from home habits. An ergonomic home office is the first step in preventing long-term back and neck pain. Here are some tips to get you started. Adjust your chair height Make sure the chair you’re sitting on isn’t very low compared to your desk. Ideally, your back should be straight to prevent arching. Good ergonomic practices require that the top of your desk be about 680 to…

Changing Weather and Joint Pain—What’s The Connection?

The weather can be directly responsible for the aches and pain you’ve been experiencing since the temperature has changed. It’s not old wives’ tales, but a well-researched phenomenon. Let’s talk about the effects of changing weather on joint pain: Weather sensitivity—it’s a thing Here are some studies to give you some perspective: An article published in the European Journal of Pain showed weather has a different bearing on each individual. Some rheumatoid arthritis patients are more affected by the weather than others. A 2014 study of people with osteoarthritis (OA) also found similar results. The researchers asked 712 participants how weather influences their joint pain, and 67 percent of them responded that they were weather-sensitive. It was concluded that people who are sensitive to weather…

Arthritic Joint Pain Among Young Adults

Young adults, even those in their 20s, can develop arthritic joint pain. It’s a painful condition that causes inflammation in the joints. The common symptoms include joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. It can limit the range of motion and lead to deformity if left untreated. Here’s all you need to know: Arthritic Joint Pain Among Young Adults As many as 8 in 100,000 people aged 18 to 34 get rheumatoid arthritis. This condition can create different challenges for young adults in their education, healthcare, and relationships. Hence, it’s essential to manage your expectations and learn how to overcome the issues caused by arthritis. Here are some tips to follow: An active lifestyle and physical activity Living with arthritis can be…

Understanding the Connection Between Joint Pain and Weather

What the Research Says about Weather and Joint Pain It’s important to understand that while studies have yet been unable to determine the link between weather and joint pain may be due to the fact that the studies haven’t been as intensive as they should be. Many studies simply involved surveys with small samples of participants. According to Harvard Medical School, rain—commonly considered the cause—may not be what causes joint pain. What really may be the culprit is barometric pressure, humidity, or weather changes. However, they concede that a definitive link has not yet been determined. On the other hand, a 15-month long study conducted by University of Manchester-based researchers with more than 13,000 participants with chronic pain, found that days…

Arthritis and Diet: Which Foods You Should Avoid

Osteoarthritis is a condition where the cartilage that sits within a joint begins to deteriorate and causes the underlying bone to change. In order to manage the condition, you should take extra care with your diet. Here are the foods you should avoid with osteoarthritis. Processed and Fried Foods Processed foods such as prepackaged meals and some baked foods, contain trans fats that act as preservatives. Trans fats tend to trigger systemic inflammation. To avoid consuming trans fats, be on the lookout for food labels that say partially hydrogenated oils. Also avoid eating fried foods from restaurants because they are usually fried in trans fats. Refined Carbohydrates Refined carbohydrates or refined grains include flour products such as white bread, crackers,…

Why You Should Never Neglect Joint Pain

Pain in your joints is usually a cause of the neglect and damage you’ve subjected your joints to over the years. However, if the pain persists for an extended period, it might signify the presence of a fracture, dislocated joint or arthritis. While negligible (but persistent) joint pain may seem harmless, your body eventually numbs itself to the warning of impending danger. Until,one day, it collapsesandlimits your joint movement. Treating the early stages of joint pain is much easier and cost-effective than letting itsettle in fully. Here are some reasons why you shouldn’t ignore joint pain: It Could Be A Fracture We trip, bang into furniture and hit our knees, elbows and the pinky finger multiple times a week. Most of…

All the Ways Hyaluronic Acid is Beneficial for You

However, as we grow old, like elastin and collagen, the amount of hyaluronic acid in our skin also decreases. The body still needs the necessary amount of HA but is unable to produce it. There are natural ways to stimulate the production of hyaluronic acid. These include incorporating fruits and vegetables into your diet. The antioxidants from these can protect your skin against inflammation. Other than making your skin look plump and rejuvenated, it also has the following unexpected benefits: Works as an Anti-Aging Agent Aging is a natural process. However, the increased amount of toxins and pollutants in the environment triggers the symptoms of aging at an earlier age. Harsh ultraviolet radiation, toxic pollutants and tobacco smoke reduce the…

5 Early Signs of Arthritis

Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation, swelling, and tenderness in the joints. The condition can affect one or multiple joints in the body. Moreover, there are at least 100 different types of arthritis. The two main types—rheumatoid and osteoarthritis—damage joints in different ways. Rheumatoid arthritis results in the body's immune system attacking the lining of the joint capsule and destroying the cartilage and bone. On the other hand, osteoarthritis is the result of wear-and-tear damage to your joint's cartilage, largely due to the bone’s grinding. It leads to severe pain and restricted movement. It’s important to identify the early signs of arthritis to prevent the deterioration of the joints. While the symptoms vary, there are symptoms that you should look…

4 Hard Truths About Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is one of the most common health problems in the United States, In 2016, an estimated 20.4 percent of US adults experienced some kind of chronic pain. This high prevalence was associated with an aging population; however, people of all age groups experience it. Living with a chronic illness can be extremely uncomfortable. But knowing the condition better can help you take the right course of action. Here are four hard truths about chronic pain: Hard truth#1: Over-the-counter medicines are NOT an effective solution! Solely relying on medications doesn’t provide relief from the symptoms of chronic pain. In fact, medications become less effective over time. While over-the-counter (OTC) medications may help control mild pain, they are rendered useless…