- Reviewed by Farrokh Sohrabi, MD
From busy schedules and demanding bosses to caregiving
responsibilities and health concerns, most everyone deals with stress of
one kind or another and tries to keep it under control. But this
becomes especially important when you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
“The link between rheumatoid arthritis and stress is complex, but the two are related almost in a circular or cyclical pattern where people with rheumatoid arthritis can have elevated stress levels — due to coping with disease, trying to maintain an active lifestyle despite pain, and more — and increased stress levels can actually worsen symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis by increasing systemic inflammation,” says Bella Fradlis, MD, a rheumatologist and an assistant professor in the department of medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York.
Managing stress with RA is key because it can help both emotionally and physically, Dr. Fradlis says. While managing stress alone isn’t likely to cause remission in most people, when it's combined with appropriate treatment, such as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), it may result in a decreased need for corticosteroid medications and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), she says.
5 Ways to Stress Less With Rheumatoid Arthritis
There are a number of different things you can try to manage stress and help keep RA under control. Start with these strategies:
1. Exercise regularly. Being active comes with a variety of health benefits, from keeping joints mobile and lifting mood to strengthening muscles, which in turn can lessen pain, Fradlis says. It can also help with managing your weight. Aerobic exercises like brisk walking, jogging, swimming, and Zumba are all good choices. Yoga and tai chi can help with stress reduction plus increased flexibility. Just remember to listen to your body and don’t overdo it, especially during flares.
2. Join a support group. Family and friends can be caring, but support groups can provide interaction with other people in the same situation who truly understand what life is like and the challenges of living with rheumatoid arthritis, Fradlis says. Also, interacting with people who are at later stages of the disease can provide a chance to learn more coping strategies. As your disease progresses, you might find the desire to mentor new members, which can give a sense of purpose.
Also, keep in mind that support groups can be in person or online. “CreakyJoints is a free online community of support and resources for people with all forms of arthritis,” says Stephen A. Paget, MD, physician-in-chief emeritus at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City
3. Keep a gratitude journal. When struggling with flares, it’s easy to focus on the pain and stiffness associated with RA and forget the things in life to be grateful for. This, in turn, can cause more stress and worse pain. Writing in a gratitude journal, Fradlis says, can help people concentrate on some of the good things in life and lead to relaxation, improved mood, and decreased pain.
4. Remember your sense of humor. “The old adage 'Laughter is the best medicine' might not be so crazy after all,” says Victoria K. Shanmugam, MD, director of the division of rheumatology at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Researchers in Japan have studied the impact of laughter on inflammatory pathways in people with rheumatoid arthritis, and certain inflammatory cytokines have been shown to drop in response to laughter, according to a study published in 2006 in the British journal Rheumatology.
5. Unplug and get some rest. Getting a good night’s sleep can help with managing stress and rheumatoid arthritis, Fradlis says. Turn off the TV and other electronics at least an hour before bedtime and unwind by reading a book or listening to music.
Ultimately the best way to manage the stress of living with RA is to do what works for you, Fradlis says. You know best what makes you happy, whether it’s chatting with a friend, cuddling with a pet, making art, or practicing meditation. Find what relaxes you and make it part of your daily routine.
“The link between rheumatoid arthritis and stress is complex, but the two are related almost in a circular or cyclical pattern where people with rheumatoid arthritis can have elevated stress levels — due to coping with disease, trying to maintain an active lifestyle despite pain, and more — and increased stress levels can actually worsen symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis by increasing systemic inflammation,” says Bella Fradlis, MD, a rheumatologist and an assistant professor in the department of medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York.
Managing stress with RA is key because it can help both emotionally and physically, Dr. Fradlis says. While managing stress alone isn’t likely to cause remission in most people, when it's combined with appropriate treatment, such as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), it may result in a decreased need for corticosteroid medications and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), she says.
5 Ways to Stress Less With Rheumatoid Arthritis
There are a number of different things you can try to manage stress and help keep RA under control. Start with these strategies:
1. Exercise regularly. Being active comes with a variety of health benefits, from keeping joints mobile and lifting mood to strengthening muscles, which in turn can lessen pain, Fradlis says. It can also help with managing your weight. Aerobic exercises like brisk walking, jogging, swimming, and Zumba are all good choices. Yoga and tai chi can help with stress reduction plus increased flexibility. Just remember to listen to your body and don’t overdo it, especially during flares.
2. Join a support group. Family and friends can be caring, but support groups can provide interaction with other people in the same situation who truly understand what life is like and the challenges of living with rheumatoid arthritis, Fradlis says. Also, interacting with people who are at later stages of the disease can provide a chance to learn more coping strategies. As your disease progresses, you might find the desire to mentor new members, which can give a sense of purpose.
Also, keep in mind that support groups can be in person or online. “CreakyJoints is a free online community of support and resources for people with all forms of arthritis,” says Stephen A. Paget, MD, physician-in-chief emeritus at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City
3. Keep a gratitude journal. When struggling with flares, it’s easy to focus on the pain and stiffness associated with RA and forget the things in life to be grateful for. This, in turn, can cause more stress and worse pain. Writing in a gratitude journal, Fradlis says, can help people concentrate on some of the good things in life and lead to relaxation, improved mood, and decreased pain.
4. Remember your sense of humor. “The old adage 'Laughter is the best medicine' might not be so crazy after all,” says Victoria K. Shanmugam, MD, director of the division of rheumatology at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Researchers in Japan have studied the impact of laughter on inflammatory pathways in people with rheumatoid arthritis, and certain inflammatory cytokines have been shown to drop in response to laughter, according to a study published in 2006 in the British journal Rheumatology.
5. Unplug and get some rest. Getting a good night’s sleep can help with managing stress and rheumatoid arthritis, Fradlis says. Turn off the TV and other electronics at least an hour before bedtime and unwind by reading a book or listening to music.
Ultimately the best way to manage the stress of living with RA is to do what works for you, Fradlis says. You know best what makes you happy, whether it’s chatting with a friend, cuddling with a pet, making art, or practicing meditation. Find what relaxes you and make it part of your daily routine.
0 comments:
Post a Comment