Osteoarthritis and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Osteoarthritis affects almost an eighth of population and is certainly the most popular form of arthritis. Most of us will sooner or later suffer from it. This form of arthritis attacks the cartilage, causing pain and preventing joints from moving.

Chronic osteoarthritis is here to stay. Once it shows up, there is no way back to full health. However, it does not mean that you have to lay down your weapon. You can still stop the disease from aggravating or even reverse it provided that you have acted soon enough.

First of course, contact your doctor. However, you can do much more than just taking pills. The most important thing you can do is to do exercises. First, you have to keep your joints moving if you want to strengthen them and reduce the cartilage loss. The best idea is usually to employ some aerobic-like exercise system or swimming. Weigh lifting may also be a good idea, but do not overdo it - your aim is to strengthen your joints, not to endanger them. Then, you need to reduce the stress put on joints and being overweight is the main reason of joints’ overbear. That’s why working on your diet a bit may also be in order.

Heat and cold are another means you can use to bring some relief. They are a very effective way of decreasing pain. Heat in a form of a shower or a hot bath are best used in the morning or in the evening is a very effective pain reliever as it increases the blood flow. However, do not use it on sore joints - apply cold instead. Heat will only make the problem worse.

Over-the-counter pain killers such as Acetaminophen are also an acceptable solution for those who do not want to ask their doctors for some prescription drugs. If it doesn’t help though, contact your doctor immediately and ask for some stronger drugs. Just remember to learn about the side-effects - as you are going to take the pills for a long time, you’d better be prepared for all possible problems.

Another thing you may do is to add more Omega-3 fatty acids to your diet. They have the strong anti-inflammatory effect and are often used to treat heart diseases and arthritis. As most of the times it is difficult to create a tasty and varied diet with enough Omega-3 fatty acids, it is often a good idea to rely on the food supplements such as Omega Daily.

The bottom line is: if you have osteoarthritis, stay healthy. Overweight, lack of exercises and bad diet will only speed up the pace of arthritis. Staying fit and keeping your joints safe are two most important things you have to do.