Cold Weather Tips for RA

First thing: Begin accumulating the right clothing. While you may once have run to the store with a light jacket and no hat or gloves, this needs to change. A side effect that many with RA experience isRaynaud’s diseasewhich causes small arteries in the hands and feet to constrict. It can decrease the blood supply, causing digits to look like hotdogs, and to turn them blue or white from the cold, then red upon rewarming. So do your best to keep your hands and feet at a comfortable temp.

Wear layers. Just as we don’t want to be too cold, some experience joints that swell when overheated. Layering your clothing allows you to stay warm when needed, but to cool down just as well. A hat and gloves accompany me each time I am outside, even if it is a quick run to the store. Be prepared. Always keep a set ofgloves or mittenswith you. Personally, I keep a set in the car, in every coat I regularly wear, and in my purse.

I make a conscious effort to always stay as warm as possible when I am outside, but I have had times when I have still felt an episode of Raynaud’s hitting me. Out of desperation, I let what others think about me fall to the wayside. I slip my hands out of my gloves and right onto my stomach. Boy! This is about the only time I am happy to have belly fat. It warms the tips of my fingers within seconds.

虽然我们总是想看起来时尚,一定to take care of your feet and balance first. Wear sturdy shoes or boots with good traction that will prevent falls on icy sidewalks. Sore joints may already make you less graceful, so do everything you can to stay upright. If needed, change into something more fitting for the office once you are out of the cold.

Have you ever woken up feeling cold and thought: “I will get another blanket soon?” Then you wake up again, and your joints are screaming out at you for not taking care of them earlier? Like everything else with cold weather, plan ahead. Layer yourself. If desired, purchased a heated blanket. Do whatever is necessary to keep those joints warm.

对我们许多人来说,寒冷的天气作为敌人to our joints. Knowing that, be kind to your body. Plan time during the day to escape to a warm bath, if your joints allow you to sink down into a tub. Otherwise, a warm shower can also do wonders for a painful body. Give yourself the luxury, if you must call it that, to show your joints some kindness during this cold time of the year.

As always,keep your body nourished. Cold weather may make you more susceptible to thecold and fluso do everything you can to stay healthy. Choose foods that reduce inflammation yet boost your immune system. Perhaps it is a warm bowl of soup or chili. Eat comforting foods but keep them on the whole-foods side of things. Also, plan down time into your day. Knowing that cold weather affects your joints, don’t overdo things. Mark off time during your day to rest

Cold weather and schedule changes often go hand-in-hand. The holidays, kids home from school, and other activities can disrupt our schedules and cause us to forget medications while we are on the run. Don’t forget to take whatever the doctor has ordered, making sure to also keep appointments for lab work and doctor visits. You are worth it.

Be sure to watch your symptoms. There are severalphone apps that will help you monitorwhat is happening with your body. By keeping an eye out, we might see how things like cold weather, rain, snow, even stress are your triggers for a flare.

Set yourself up to succeed this winter with appropriate clothes, hats, gloves, and shoes. Stay warm. Eat well. The winter months can offer fun nights with family, outdoor adventures, and getaway vacations. We cannot always count on RA to go along with our plans, but we can do all we can on our side of things to make sure we can participate in as much or as little as we would personally like to be involved in this winter.