The Lifestyle Changes Required To Manage Rheumatoid Arthritis. See What Experts Say

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can ultimately lead to bone erosion and joint deformity.

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New Delhi: Rheumatoid arthritis is a persistent inflammatory condition that affects more than just the joints. The condition can harm a variety of body systems in some individuals, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. Unlike osteoarthritis, which causes wear and tear on your joints, rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can ultimately lead to bone erosion and joint deformity.

However, if the issue is detected early, it can be well controlled with medications and lifestyle changes. ABP Live sought the opinion of experts in this field who shared ways to manage Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Considering the lifestyle changes, here are some of them suggested by Naval Mendiratta, Senior Consultant Department of Rheumatology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram. 

1. Avoid Smoking: All medical studies in patients with arthritis have proven it to aggravate arthritis by 5 times if they smoke. It increases the citrullination of protein(anti-ccp antibody), which is a causative antibody in patients with arthritis. Hence if you are a patient with arthritis, you need to stop smoking completely. 

2. Regular exercises: With everything getting delivered to our doorsteps, our daily step count remains less than 2000 unless we put exercise in our daily routine. Regular aerobic exercise works like magic in patients with arthritis, as the increased blood circulation reduces joint pains and stiffness. So we need to include exercise in our daily routine as it helps combat stress and lowers the pain chemicals in the body and keeps the movement of all our joints free. 

3. Obesity: Brown fat in patients with a high Body Mass index has been shown to increase the C Reactive Protein which is a sensitive marker for the measurement of arthritis. People who are obese have a high chance of early knee replacement compared to their peers. Even the medications for Rheumatoid Arthritis are less effective in patients who are obese, with a constant requirement for higher than usual doses. So, cutting down on weight with a good diet and exercise helps you keep your joints healthy in long run.

4. Stress: With heavy working hours, stress prevails in youths these days which leads to an early rise in blood pressure and early heart attacks as well. Stress is known to worsen all autoimmune diseases. Since it is unavoidable, we need to learn how to deal with it better. Getting a good 6 to 7 hours of sleep, 10 minutes of meditation, and figuring out the time to spend with family and friends helps you deal with stress better. 

Apart from all the above, another important aspect that comes under lifestyle changes required to manage Rheumatoid Arthritis is diet, speaking of which Dr. Girish L. Bhalerao, Super Specialty Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road said, "Diet will not cure rheumatoid arthritis, but it can help by regulating the inflammation that causes havoc in the body, giving nutrients your body need, and assisting in maintaining a healthy weight."

Talking particularly about the food items to be included in the diet, Dr. Bhalerao suggested selecting a diet that is high in grains, veggies, and fruits, and trying to go for a low-fat, saturated-fat-free, cholesterol-free diet. He also suggested opting for a sugar-reduced diet and avoiding some meals, such as red meat, dairy products, sugar, and high-fructose syrup, and prioritising fish, vegetables, and olive oil, which may help to avoid developing arthritis or alleviate ongoing symptoms. 

Due to decreased physical exercise, arthritis can make you prone to weight gain. Losing weight is one of the most important things your doctor may counsel you to do because it can be extremely beneficial in the treatment of arthritis. In this regard, Dr. Chethana D, Consultant - Rheumatology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore said, "Losing weight is an important part of managing arthritis, as it can improve mobility, decrease pain and prevent future damage. People with RA should avoid crash dieting and develop an eating pattern to create a cycle between periods of eating and fasting."

She also suggested to follow an autoimmune protocol diet which helps in eliminating inflammation. She said, "The Autoimmune Protocol Diet is a new food-based approach that helps in eliminating unwanted inflammation in a person's body. It is a restrictive diet that includes meat and vegetables to improve gut health, build proper nutrient density, and regulate blood sugar and the immune system."