Gradual deterioration of your cartilage around your bones is what causes arthritis. Without this cartilage, your bones will rub together and it will cause you to experience pain and inflammation. Luckily, the suggestions in this article can aid in the management of arthritis symptoms.

You should definitely avoid smoke from cigarettes, and if you are someone who smokes, quit. Cigarette smoke contains nicotine, which reduces blood flow to the extremities. This can produce short-term pain relief. In addition, your joints can also suffer longer term damage from a decreased flow of blood.

If you’re a woman with arthritis, you may not want to wear high heels. Although they make you more attractive, you do your feet no favors by wearing high heels. The heels can aggravate arthritis symptoms as they increase the torque at the knee joints. Your arthritis troubles will be minimized if you wear comfortable shoes whenever possible. Your body will thank you.

Do not wear badly worn shoes to workout if you have arthritis. Shoes that are at the end of their life cause your body weight to be distributed unevenly. This can also cause damage to your leg muscles and joints. If there’s noticeable wear, especially on the soles, replace them with new workout shoes.

Even if it is hard, you should exercise on a daily basis. If you don’t take the time to exercise, your joints will become more tired and this will make the arthritis worse. Doing some flexibility exercises will help you increase the range of motion in your body, which is wonderful for anyone suffering from arthritis.

It can be beneficial to detect arthritis symptoms early to prevent the onset of the disease. Good typing posture and technique can go a long way to help. Ideally, you should keep the hands level with the keyboard, and use a mouse pad beneath your mouse. This position will reduce strain to your hands and prevent problems from developing later in life.

Arthritis is very stress-sensitive, so you can see great results quickly if you learn to relax. Whenever you are feeling stressed, your body releases chemicals that often cause inflammation, worsening your arthritis. Exercise and meditation can both be used to reduce stress.

If you smoke you might lose some flexibility, and your arthritis is more likely to flare-up. Although it may be difficult to stop smoking, the knowledge of how it can affect your arthritis should make it easier.

Avoid taking prescription pain medication for your arthritis unless it is absolutely essential. Pain killers provide only temporary relief and you can quickly become seriously addicted to them. If, however, you feel the need to take prescribed pain killers, stick closely to the directions supplied.

There are multiple treatments available for you if you are stricken with arthritis. They will help cut down on the amount of symptoms you suffer from. Keep the advice from this article in mind as you look for ways to deal with the effects and limitations of arthritis; relief may be only a few moments away.