Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune and inflammatory condition in which your immune system attacks healthy cells by mistake, leading to swelling. Rheumatoid arthritis mainly affects the joints in your knees, hands, and wrists, leading to chronic pain, changes in how joints look and feel, and other issues.
Although the condition is chronic, you can take steps to treat it and reduce symptoms. Some of the most effective treatment options can include:
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Incorporating Lifestyle Changes
To treat rheumatoid arthritis, making changes to what you eat can help. Incorporate healthier food options with anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants, like blueberries, nuts, and salmon.
Similarly, avoid foods that trigger inflammation, like processed snacks, red meat, cheeses, and alcohol. Foods and drinks that are very high in salt or sugar trigger symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, so limit these, too.
If you smoke, quit. Smoking causes more inflammation while also putting you at risk of developing other health problems.
Stress management is also essential for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. High levels of stress trigger inflammation throughout the body, worsening symptoms. Try to find ways of relieving stress, like breathing exercises and yoga.
Daily exercise can be beneficial as well. It’s common to struggle to move when you have rheumatoid arthritis, but a sedentary lifestyle can lead to worsening pain.
Turning to Medications
Medications can help in managing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, including reducing inflammation and relieving pain. NSAIDs and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs may provide some relief, though they don’t typically address the underlying cause of the pain.
Considering Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy, is quickly becoming a commonly explored treatment option for rheumatoid arthritis. Stem cell therapy relies on stem cells, which create specialized cells that bring growth factors to the treatment site.
Because it has the properties to address the cause of the pain, stem cell therapy has the potential to offer a management tool to help find relief from rheumatoid arthritis.
This post was written by a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine for back pain, also known as Stem Cell Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions.
