For women who are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at an early stage, these coping strategies can help them better manage the disease, relieve symptoms, and maintain quality of life.
1. Actively seek medical treatment and cooperate with treatment
1. Make a definite diagnosis • When symptoms such as joint pain, swelling, morning stiffness (joint stiffness after getting up in the morning, relief after activity, lasting more than 1 hour) occur, go to the Rheumatology and Immunology Department of the regular hospital as soon as possible. Doctors will make a definite diagnosis according to symptoms and signs, combined with blood tests (such as rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody) and imaging examinations (such as joint X-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging).
2. Standardized treatment • Early treatment is essential to control the development of the disease. Drug therapy is generally used, among which non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen are commonly used drugs, which can effectively alleviate joint pain and inflammation. But these drugs can’t control the progression of the disease, and they need to be combined with anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as methotrexate, which is the cornerstone drug of rheumatoid arthritis treatment. Usually taken once a week, it can effectively control the disease and reduce joint destruction. Patients should take medicine regularly and quantitatively according to the doctor’s instructions, and can not stop or change medicine by themselves. II. Lifestyle adjustment
1. Reasonable rest and exercise balance • In the early stage of the disease, proper rest is necessary, especially when joint pain and swelling are obvious. Assistive devices, such as wheelchairs and crutches, can be used to reduce the burden of joints and avoid excessive activities to aggravate joint injury. • At the same time, exercise moderately. In the remission period or when the pain is mild, simple joint range of motion training can be carried out, such as fist clenching, finger extension, wrist flexion and extension, knee flexion and extension, etc. Each activity lasts 10-15 minutes, 2-3 times a day. You can also choose some low-impact sports, such as swimming, yoga and so on. Swimming puts less pressure on the joints and exercises the muscles of the whole body. It can be done 3-4 times a week for 30-60 minutes each time. Some postures in yoga can help stretch and relax the muscles around the joints and enhance the stability of the joints.
2. Joint protection • In daily life, we should pay attention to joint protection and avoid keeping the same posture for a long time. For example, when working at a desk for a long time, you should get up regularly and stretch your limbs. When lifting heavy objects, try to use both hands, avoid one-handed force, and use tools such as carts when the objects are too heavy. In addition, in cold and wet weather, we should pay attention to joint warmth, wear knee pads, wrist pads and other warm supplies, because cold and wet may aggravate joint pain.
3. Dietary adjustment • Maintain a balanced diet to ensure adequate nutritional intake. Increase foods rich in high-quality protein, such as lean meat, fish, beans, eggs and dairy products, to maintain muscle strength and repair damaged tissues. Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits. They are rich in vitamins and minerals, which help to enhance the body’s immunity. Some studies have shown that increasing omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods (such as deep-sea fish, flaxseed, etc.) and reducing omega-6 fatty acid-rich vegetable oils (such as corn oil, sunflower oil, etc.) May help reduce inflammation. At the same time, we should try to avoid high sugar, high salt and high fat foods, because these foods may aggravate obesity, which will bring greater burden to the joints.
3. Psychological adjustment
1. Face up to the disease • Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, and early patients may fear the unknown and worry about the disease. We should actively learn about rheumatoid arthritis, understand the symptoms, treatment and prognosis of the disease, so as to better face the disease.
2. Emotional regulation • Because the disease may have a certain impact on life, such as limited work, reduced social activities, female patients are prone to anxiety, depression and other emotions. They can release pressure by communicating with family and friends, and they can also participate in patient support groups to share their experiences and coping methods. In addition, you can relax your mood and keep a positive attitude by listening to music, reading, painting and other hobbies.
