By Raise your hand if you dread laundry day. Or if the thought of scrubbing your bathtub makes you feel anxious. When you have osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis, the daily and weekly chores everyone finds annoying can feel even more burdensome,…
By Tina Donvito
Arthritis Bracelets: Do They Really Work?
If you live with the chronic pain of arthritis, you’d do just about anything to get pain relief. The CDC reports that one in four people with arthritis experiences severe joint pain, and nearly half of those with arthritis have...
By We Know Ankylosing Spondylitis Negatively Affects Quality of Life, But This Study Explains How It Differs By Gender
AS seems to take different kinds of tolls on men vs. women.
By Heart failure was of particular concern.
Lupus Is Linked to Higher Odds of 16 Types of Cancer — But Here’s How Doctors Help Patients Manage This Risk
A new study’s findings sound alarming, but doctors don’t want patients to overly worry.
By 25% of Americans Are Exposed to Secondhand Smoke — and These Groups Are Affected the Most
It’s an improvement from 20 years ago, but progress in reducing the number of people exposed to secondhand smoke has stalled in recent years.
By Think you shouldn’t exercise because it could make your arthritis symptoms worse? Most of the time, that’s just not the case.
By The Reassuring News About Vaccines You Need to Read Now
There’s so much misunderstanding and confusion about vaccines, especially if you’re immune-compromised because of inflammatory arthritis. But this statistic is encouraging.
The Urgent Question About Mental Health People with Arthritis Need to Ask Their Rheumatologist
Arthritis and depression commonly occur together, but a critical conversation about mental health isn’t happening at doctor visits.
By If you get frequent gout attacks or have evidence that the disease has caused a visible buildup of uric acid crystals (tophi), then your doctor has likely recommended taking a preventive gout medication to protect your joints. Two options —…
By 6 Common Questions About Taking Prednisone for Rheumatoid Arthritis
This steroid is commonly prescribed to help with RA flares. Here’s what you need to know before you start it.
By Getting Cortisone Shots for Arthritis: What to Know Before Getting Your First Shot
Corticosteroid injections can help relieve both inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis. Find out more if they’re a good pain relief option for you.
A strict diet led to major improvements in swollen joint count, CPR levels, and other measures of disease activity.
By Hip Exercises to Ease Arthritis Pain: How Exercise Helps Your Hips, and 7 Daily Exercises to Try
Strengthening the muscles around your hip joint is key to keeping them strong and mobile with age.
By Range-of-Motion Exercises for Arthritis You Should Do Every Day
From your toes to your shoulders, these gentle stretches are essential to maintain healthy, flexible joints.
By Quit these habits and you’ll be a lot healthier — and happier.
How Doctors Diagnose Ankylosing Spondylitis: What to Expect at the Rheumatologist
It can some patients a decade to get the right diagnosis. This advice should significantly speed up the process.
Do You Define Yourself as a ‘Patient?’ Here’s What 12 People with Chronic Illness Have to Say About It
Are you an arthritis patient, or a person living with arthritis? A lupus patient, or a consumer of health care who has lupus? The word “patient” has taken on a negative connotation in the medical community over the past couple...
By Trying-to-conceive and expectant moms should read this.
By #HolidaysAreHard with Chronic Illness, So Here Are 31 Stress-Relieving Tips to Get You Through December
You want it to be the most wonderful time of the year, but fatigue. And pain. And brain fog. These stress-soothing tips can help you have a healthier and happier holiday season in spite of chronic illness.
By Is It Growing Pains or Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis? Key Ways Parents Can Tell the Difference
You expect your child to complain of aches and pains when they have a cold or the flu, or even after a particularly active day. But what if there’s no obvious cause for their pain? In many cases, these symptoms...
By If you’re an arthritis patient like me, you probably want to see more effective treatments, at lower costs, with fewer side effects. And you might like a way to prevent your loved ones from having to deal with serious rheumatological…
By Fertility and Pregnancy Can Be Complicated and Confusing for People with Rheumatic Diseases — New Reproductive Health Guidelines Will Help
At its recent annual meeting in Chicago, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) presented a draft of the first evidence-based guidelines designed to help rheumatologists and obstetrician/gynecologists (ob-gyns) advise patients with rheumatic disease about their reproductive choices. Although the guidelines...
Psoriatic Arthritis Patients May Do as Well with an Anti-TNF Drug Alone Instead of with Methotrexate
People with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are often prescribed methotrexate, an anti-TNF drug like etanercept (Enbrel), or a combination of both. Which option is most effective?
