Recently, more and more people have been told that they have arthritis. The pain caused by inflammation in the joints can sometimes inhibit physical movement. This article can help people cope with their arthritis by giving effective ways to treat it.

Cigarettes can irritate your body and may cause pain, as you should avoid smoking with arthritis. Nicotine sometimes decreases blood flow towards your arms and legs, which possibly alleviates short term inflammation. Blood flow reduction can cause damage to your joints and this will make arthritis worse.

If you have arthritis, consider taking part in aquatic activities. Aquatic activities are beneficial for loosening up joints and muscles, and the water, especially warm water, is soothing to chronic arthritis sufferers. If you cannot swim, consider signing up for a swimming class.

Take a warm bath and use bath salts in it before bed to soothe aching joints and sleep better. The bath and the warmth of the water will help relax you and provide some relief from your arthritis pain. Bedtime will come much easier once your body is relaxed.

Lie back, close your eyes and practice some deep breathing exercises. This will help you think happy thoughts and ignore the constant pain you are in.

If your arthritis has been diagnosed, then you are entitled to a handicapped sticker or plate. This is not widely-known by those afflicted, suffering unnecessarily by not taking advantage of this helping hand.

Consider meeting with a therapist. If you are suffering from arthritis you should seek help; therapy is a really positive step, reminding you that you’re not alone. Those with arthritis are prone to developing depression, and these concerns should be addressed with therapy.

You may have to dial back your activity level if you suffer from Psoriatic Arthritis. Remember that you don’t have the same amount of energy as you used to. Don’t think that they are, because your symptoms can get worse. Concentrate your thoughts and energies onto what is truly important. Do not fall into the false belief that you must do all of the activities which you once did.

Strive to always get a good night’s sleep. Getting enough sleep is very important to someone who has arthritis, sleep will give you more energy that you need to get through the day. If the pain from your arthritis is preventing you from falling asleep, try to minimize any distractions in your bedroom, such as light, noise, cell phone and television.

You can help combat arthritis by to listening to your body. Because every case of arthritis is unique, you are the one person who really understands exactly what effects you are experiencing. Analyze the signals your body sends, especially those that signal a flare-up is coming. If you are feeling fatigued or overworked, it is acceptable to take a break.

You should look at weight loss and staying fit as a must in your life. Excessive weight can worsen arthritis, so losing it can make you feel much better. You will be shocked at what losing weight can do for arthritis pain.

To help relieve your pain and joint stiffness, you can rub them with castor oil. The oil itself is beneficial to your joints, but rubbing it in provides double the relief. This pressure can help to accelerate blood flow in your body, and eliminate stiffness and tension.

Avoid carrying too much weight. Arthritic shoulders are seen more often than you might believe, especially for women. Large handbags worn on the shoulder and large messenger bags cause inflammation and swelling of both the shoulder and neck. If carrying a bag is necessary, try to keep it as light as possible by carrying just the necessary things.

Arthritis is divided into three types: Rheumatoid, Psoriatic and Osteoarthritis. Each of these three types of arthritis requires a different treatment approach.

As was mentioned earlier, the ranks of arthritis sufferers continue to grow. Possibly from a parallel increase in obesity, poor diet and aging during such a short span of years,but more people than ever are dealing with the pains of arthritis. However, with the information given here, you should be able to reduce the effect arthritis has on your life.