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Everyday Ways to Battle RA

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can really affect the quality of a person's life. Just ask anyone who has been diagnosed as such, or one of their family members or friends.  More than likely, they will have a lot of information to share with you. In a prior post, "Rheumatoid Arthritis IS A Deadly Disease" you will find a list of some things that cause an RA patient to suffer above and beyond the usual.  You will see that there are some things on the list that these patients can control...and that's what today's post is about.


Himalayan Pink Salt


Some of these things are lifestyle changes--and while they are not easy, they can happen. One of those things is modification of salt intake.  The American diet is pretty high in sodium as is. Opting for reduced sodium food products and using salt substitutes such as "Mrs. Dash" or pink himalayan salt can be a good place to start.  While himalayan salt does contain sodium, it has slightly less sodium than table salt, and contains some other trace minerals that our bodies do need.  We have some of this on our table at home---and if you have not yet tried it, you might like to give it a go!

Secondly, periodontal disease can shorten the lifespan of an RA patient.  This issue may be rooted in genetics but taking good care of the teeth and gums are up to the patient.  It's often said that the overall health of a person can be determined by looking at their teeth and gums. The best advice to be given here is to eat a healthy diet, go to your dentist for cleanings and checkups regularly, and be sure to take good care of your oral health between dental visits!

Last but not least, weight control is essential for the RA patient.  A recent study published in Arthritis Care and Research concludes that obesity halves the chance that an RA patient will attain disease remission.  The study looked back at over 3,000 patients and compared treatment outcomes against body mass index (BMI) to determine how significant a role a patient's weight plays in disease management.  Interestingly, the study found that being obese did not affect mortality, and did not follow up to see if weight loss improved a patient's chance of remission.

Once again..an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Sources: Everyday Pain Management Ideas; Medscape; AuthorityNutrition;Flickr


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