While the mainstay of therapy for psoriatic arthritis is the medical management of inflammation, there are a number of things that complement the efforts of their health care team. First and foremost, diet and nutrition play a big role in this regard.
Their are several facets to consider in this effort:
--Anti-inflammatory foods help to reduce the inflammation caused by psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.
See my earlier post: The Painful Truth About Psoriasis: Dietary Considerations
--A heart-healthy diet, including elimination of alcohol, processed foods, and fatty foods and instead opting for lean meats, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthy oils.
--Inclusion of omega-3 oils in the diet through supplements, nuts, fish oil, eggs and other foods
--Up to 25 percent of those who have psoriasis have gluten sensitivity, so a gluten-free diet is worth considering.
--Weight loss is important, especially since obesity is a risk factor for psoriasis and the other risks a psoriasis patient faces, such as heart disease, type II diabetes, and psoriatic arthritis.
Some herbal/natural remedies are noted by the National Psoriasis Foundation on their web site. You can read more about these by clicking here.
Alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or acupressure are reported to help some patients with relief from symptoms. Talk to your health care team if about this if you are interested in pursuing them further.
Mind/Body Therapies are good for reducing stress--and this is important because stress can be a trigger for disease flare ups. These therapies include Meditation, Aromatherapy, Massage, Reiki, and others.
Exercise can help overall health by boosting mood, helping one to manage weight, and help to keep the heart healthy and reduce risk of type II diabetes. Choosing the right exercise is important if you have psoriatic arthritis, but it will help keep those joints moving and more flexible. Ask your health care team what forms of exercise are best for you.
Yoga and Tai Chi are good choices because they help to stretch and strengthen and help to improve blood flow. They are also forms of mindfulness which can help to reduce stress!
Sources: Psoriasis.org; Flickr
Their are several facets to consider in this effort:
--Anti-inflammatory foods help to reduce the inflammation caused by psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.
See my earlier post: The Painful Truth About Psoriasis: Dietary Considerations
--A heart-healthy diet, including elimination of alcohol, processed foods, and fatty foods and instead opting for lean meats, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthy oils.
--Inclusion of omega-3 oils in the diet through supplements, nuts, fish oil, eggs and other foods
--Up to 25 percent of those who have psoriasis have gluten sensitivity, so a gluten-free diet is worth considering.
--Weight loss is important, especially since obesity is a risk factor for psoriasis and the other risks a psoriasis patient faces, such as heart disease, type II diabetes, and psoriatic arthritis.
Some herbal/natural remedies are noted by the National Psoriasis Foundation on their web site. You can read more about these by clicking here.
Alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or acupressure are reported to help some patients with relief from symptoms. Talk to your health care team if about this if you are interested in pursuing them further.
Mind/Body Therapies are good for reducing stress--and this is important because stress can be a trigger for disease flare ups. These therapies include Meditation, Aromatherapy, Massage, Reiki, and others.
Exercise can help overall health by boosting mood, helping one to manage weight, and help to keep the heart healthy and reduce risk of type II diabetes. Choosing the right exercise is important if you have psoriatic arthritis, but it will help keep those joints moving and more flexible. Ask your health care team what forms of exercise are best for you.
Yoga and Tai Chi are good choices because they help to stretch and strengthen and help to improve blood flow. They are also forms of mindfulness which can help to reduce stress!
Sources: Psoriasis.org; Flickr
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