From healthcentral.com
Discover what’s making your RA symptoms reappear, how to spot a flare in the making, and what to do about it
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an unpredictable condition, but one thing you can predict is that at some point, your joint pain will flare up. Why this happens varies. “Frequently, we don’t know why someone has a flare of their disease,” says Jason Liebowitz, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine in the division of rheumatology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. Other times the cause is clearer. Here are some of the most likely triggers, ways to spot a flare in the making, and how to nip it in the bud.
An Infection
In RA, a hyperactive immune system mistakenly attacks the joints. When you come down with a cold or the flu, your immune system naturally goes into overdrive to attack the germs that caused it. Sometimes your joints become casualties of that attack. Your meds factor into flares, too. “Part of the issue is that often when people have an infection, we have them stop their rheumatoid arthritis medicines, especially if the medicines are suppressing their immune system,” says Amish Dave, M.D., a board-certified rheumatologist at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Seattle, WA. “People are more likely to flare when they’re off their medications.”
A Change in Your Meds
Speaking of going off your meds, talk with your doctor before making any changes to your treatment due to changes in insurance coverage or side effects. While some people can stop taking their RA drug with barely a symptom, others will flare right away. Because it’s hard to know which category you fall into, don’t make medication changes on your own. Your doctor will help you find the RA medicine that manages your symptoms with the fewest side effects, and that is covered by your insurance.
The Weather
If your joints ache more on cold or humid days, you’re not imagining it. “Anecdotally, you’ll hear many people talk about certain times of the year, in terms of weather or changes in temperature, where they’ll notice that their symptoms are more active,” says Dr. Liebowitz. A study in Pain Research and Management found that people with RA had more tender joints in periods of extreme high and low temperatures and humidity during the summer and winter months. Weather changes might trigger joint pain by making tissues swell or thickening the synovial fluid that normally lubricates joints, says the Arthritis Foundation.
Stress
The connection between stress and RA goes two ways. When you’re stressed, your body’s fight-or-flight response kicks into gear, causing your immune system to release inflammatory chemicals that make your joints swell up and hurt, says the Arthritis Foundation. And when your joints become so inflamed that you can’t do all the things you want to do, it can stress you out even more. Gaining control over your RA with medication and finding ways to relieve stress can help you break this cycle. Some relaxation methods, like yoga, taking a warm bath, or going on walks are good for both your mind and joints.
Hormone Changes
Women are two to three times more likely to get RA than men, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Hormones are likely behind the gender difference, and might play a role in disease severity, too. As evidence, women with arthritis report more pain when their oestrogen levels are low. Those who take hormones with their RA medications are more likely to achieve remission, according to a study in Rheumatology (Oxford).
What’s more, many women say symptoms lessen, or even disappear, during pregnancy when hormone levels shift —only to flare up within the first three months after they deliver.
Diet
Do certain foods trigger flares? It’s the number one question Dr. Liebowitz’s patients ask. There could be a link between certain foods and RA symptoms, but there’s scant evidence to back it up, he says. He recommends a generally healthy way of eating like the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits and vegetables, fatty fish like salmon, and whole grains, and low in the red meat and processed foods that fuel inflammation. That kind of diet is good for your heart and overall health, “though I can’t guarantee that it will help control your disease or reduce the risk of flares,” he adds.
Exhaustion
It’s hard to sleep when your joints are screaming at you all night. Ironically, some medications that manage arthritis pain have sleeplessness as a side effect, including steroids like prednisone, says the Arthritis Foundation. But you need sleep, and not just to feel rested. While you slumber, your body releases chemicals that help manage your pain. People with RA who don’t sleep well have more severe pain and a lower tolerance for pain than those who get enough rest. Practicing good sleep hygiene, like sticking to a set sleep schedule, can help you get the zzz’s you need.
Flare Warning Signs
No comments:
Post a Comment