If you want to avoid or limit a flare-up of psoriatic arthritis, take a long, hard look at your lifestyle. Making some key tweaks to your health habits can help you stave off a return of symptoms like inflammation and joint pain.
The triggers of psoriatic arthritis flares vary from person to person and can change over time. But consider altering your approach to common problems that often make psoriatic arthritis worse.
Lack of Exercise and Weight Gain
Just as stretching and light exercise can make it easier for you to get around and make your joints more flexible, lack of exercise and weight gain can quickly send you in the other direction and trigger flares.
Don't neglect your body. Extra weight can:
- Put added pressure on already sore joints and on your spine
- Cause extra inflammation in your body and lead to arthritis in more joints
- Make skin problems worse
- Interfere with how well your medicine works
Poor Diet
Saturated fats, sugar, alcohol, and simple carbohydrates can add pounds, cause inflammation, and trigger psoriatic arthritis flares.
Try to avoid foods such as:
Not Enough Rest
Some studies show a link between poor sleep and worsening symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. Lack of sleep and fatigue are linked to flare-ups.
A lack of sleep also adds to your stress level, which can cause a flare since stress releases chemicals in your body that lead to inflammation.
Talk to your doctor about how to improve your sleep habits so you can get better rest. Things like waking up and going to sleep at the same time each day can help. So can making sure your bedroom stays at a cool temperature and avoiding caffeinated drinks too close to bedtime.
Exercise and meditation are helpful to curb stress. Also, consider seeing a counselor who can suggest ways to manage tension.
Too Much Alcohol
Experts say alcohol might be a factor in raising your chances of getting psoriasis, but more research is needed on the link between drinking and psoriatic arthritis. One study suggests women who drink too much alcohol get the disease more often than those who don't.
Keep in mind that alcohol and psoriatic arthritis medications often don't mix. At the very least, a drink might affect how well your medicine works. At worst, mixing the two can lead to more severe complications, like stomach ulcers, bleeding, and liver damage.
Smoking
You probably know already that using tobacco can lead to health problems like lung cancer. Studies also suggest smokers are more likely to get psoriatic arthritis.
A study by a team of Danish researchers also shows that smokers are less likely to improve with medication and less likely to stick to their treatment plan.
Too Much Sun
You walk a fine line when it comes to your skin and the sun's ultraviolet rays. A little sun can be good for you and help prevent psoriasis. But too much time in the sun can damage your skin and trigger flares.
If you're at the beach, you may want to wear sunscreen and protective clothing. And limit your time in the sun.
Misuse of Medication
It should be a no-brainer, but if you don't stick to instructions for taking your medicine, flare-ups can happen.
Don't stop, skip, or take the wrong amount of medicine. Always follow your doctor's orders.