Tips for Taking on the Cold

We don't often use "cold" and "Florida" in the same sentence, but we will feel the temperatures drop over the next few months. Cold weather does not affect everyone with arthritis, but if you experience discomfort as the mercury drops, try these remedies:

Layer your clothing and avoid rapid temperature transitions between indoors and out.

Stay active with low-impact indoor activities like mall walking, yoga or dancing.

Stretch at least 10 minutes every morning to relax stiff muscles.

Avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine as these products have a drying effect on cartilage.

Alternate heat therapy such as warm baths and heating pads which help to ease pain, with cold therapy such as ice packs to reduce swelling.

Next Seminar is January 12

All seminars are held in the lobby of Physicians Regional Medical Center and begin at 6:00 p.m.

January 12, 2012

March 15, 2012

May 10, 2012

Register online

or call us at

239-596-0100 

...Leave the Cookies to Santa!

You won't find this gift under your Christmas tree or in your stocking, but it's close by. As I disuss in my free educational seminar, there are several steps you can take toward easing the pain of arthritis and they should be explored before you consider surgery to replace a joint.

One factor that is front and center during the holidays is nutrition! Tempting as it is to take a bite of every Christmas goody that passes you by (after all, it's only polite!), the extra calories will be doing more harm to your joints than goodwill to all men.Your nutrition has a major role in how you feel pain. What you eat will give your body the chemistry it needs to make an inflammatory response. Inflammation is what your immune system creates when there is some kind of insult or damage to your tissue. Inflammation is not the only cause of pain but it can make your pain feel more intense and last longer. 

The chemistry that creates pain signals in your body is increased by starchy and sugary foods. It can be decreased by protein foods. Controlling inflammation and therefore pain is done best by avoiding carbohydrates you don't need. This means sweets and many of the grain products. Sadly enough, Christmas cookies fall into that category.

Meals that regularly include lean meat, fish, and eggs are essential for controlling pain chemistry. Portion control is also central in controlling inflammation, and to successful weight loss. Portion control means not eating more food than you are using for fuel on a daily basis.

Research suggests that losing as little as seven to 10 per cent of your current body weight can help. Such a weight loss can change your body chemistry for the better. These changes can help decrease physical pain.

You can read more about the role that nutrition plays in pain on our website.