How To Relieve Arthritis By Losing Weight

Every step you take, every move you make will be made worse if you are carrying extra weight. To carry even a single pound extra places added stress through your feet, ankles, knees and hips.

The pressure is made worse if you are walking up or down steps and much worse when running. Arthritis sufferers are not likely to go jogging but we all have times when we move quickly to cross a road or escape the rain.

The pressure on upper joints is just as bad. The spine has to support much of the body's weight.

So often doctors will mention that you should lose weight then write a prescription for an anti inflammatory. They know that most people will struggle to shed their excess pounds, so it is much easier to medicate.

Arthritis is stressful enough without adding the stress of losing weight to the equation.

However it is very important to find way to shed the extra pounds, because every day your extra joint compression is adding to your pain. Extra weight also adds to the bodies overall inflammatory load. Fat cells are typically inflamed, just image carry millions of them.

Lose your weight successfully and you will overcome much of your stress. You can eliminate your resistance to dietary change and exercise.

By losing just a few kilos your joints will have a greater chance of recovery. Your arthritis will progress much slower, your joints will receive a better blood supply and your cartilage will last much longer.

Young joints have well formed cartilage, but through wear and tear the cartilage thins, and through injury the same cartilage tears. The result is much the same effect as walking on concrete in bare feet compared to wearing comfortable walking shoes.

With added weight combined with reduced cartilage the jarring effect through the knees especially, becomes worse and worse. This leads to increased inflammation and pain.

As you lose weight every pound or kilo lost relieves the stress in the joints and allows your anti-inflammatory medications and supplements to be of greatest effect for you.

Arthritis doesn't tend to resolve itself, and usually gets worse simply through increased wear and tear. Weight loss doesn't occur by itself, but it is the one thing that you can do that doesn't require drugs. It is one aspect of control you can exert over the crippling effects of arthritis. Take control, take action, lose weight, and reduce your pain.