Living Well

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) may significantly change a person's life as one might need long-term treatment to control the symptoms. Depending on the intensity of pain and stiffness, it may become difficult or take longer to perform day-to-day work. Living with PsA, even simple changes to the usual routine can help.

EATING WELL AND MAKING THE RIGHT FOOD CHOICES

PsA affects major joints, which may become swollen and painful. If left untreated for an extended period, they can become damaged. For people with inflammatory conditions, eating certain foods may either lower inflammation or cause even more damage. Experts suggest that definite dietary choices can help reduce disease severity in PsA. Here are some suggestions on foods to eat and avoid and several diets to try for the management of PsA.

Here are a few suggested food items to include :
Here are a few food items to avoid:

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Self-Care

Intense and long-term joint pain and stiffness can prevent a person from doing daily work like going to the office or school, and caring for their family. Handling these difficulties can be overwhelming and stressful. Depression and anxiety are common among people with psoriasis and PsA. There are multiple approaches and tools available to improve the quality of life and general state of mind despite these conditions. A part from getting the right treatment, taking out time for self-care can make a big difference. Here are some ways in which patients with PsA can take care of themselves:

Be as active as possible

Exercising can have a positive impact on PsA symptoms. With an added benefit of weight loss, one can manage PsA more effectively.

Give the body enough nutrients

One symptom of PsA is fatigue, which may demoralize a person. Healthy eating can help combat PsA-associated fatigue and other physical symptoms like pain and swelling. Furthermore, it is advisable to limit alcohol intake and quit smoking as it can interfere with the medications or increase side effects. It may also result in a flare-up of the disease.

Learn stress-reduction techniques

Living with a life-long condition like PsA can be stressful, and excessive stress can make symptoms worse and trigger flare-ups. To better manage mental health and PsA, aadopt some stress management tactics. When anxiety kicks in, try activities such as meditation, listening to music, going for a walk, talking to a friend, or practising yoga.It may take some time to get used to these activities, but they will help relieve stress to a great extent, which is an essential part of managing PsA.

Care for the skin

People with PsA may also have psoriasis. In such cases, keeping the skin moisturized especially after bathing or swimming may be a wonderful way to pamper the skin. It is recommended to use minimal soap to wash the body and wear loose-fitting cotton clothes to prevent skin irritation and discomfort. Psoriasis medications must be taken as prescribed.

Make self-care a priority

Spending just 15 minutes a day focusing on self-care and seeing to personal needs will likely improve the mood and overall quality of life.

Manage related health conditions

While PsA often coincides with psoriasis, some may be dealing with other health conditions at the same time. PsA is also commonly linked to obesity, heart diseases, depression and other mental health disorders like anxiety.

Depression, in particular, can significantly affect the management and treatment of PsA. As depression may interfere with seeking medical help (for PsA) or adhering to the treatment, it may complicate disease management. Gaining control of any other health conditions, especially mental health can help prevent PsA flare-ups and slow disease progression.


WORK AND PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

Why managing psoriatic arthritis at work is critical?

Apart from pain and swelling in the joints, PsA can reduce the ability to move freely and easily. Living with PsA can make a person feel exhausted. In order to maintain good health and well-being, and be productive at work, it is important for a PsA patient to find effective strategies.


How to thrive at work?

These tips can help improve the work experience of a person with PsA.

Setting Up a Comfortable Workplace

  1. Use a chair that has armrests and able to provide sufficient support to the lower back
  2. A wheelchair can help with mobility
  3. Do not choose a chair that has a seat which is too deep
  4. Seating position must be such that the feet are flat on the ground with a gap of at least one inch between the knees
  5. The mouse and keyboard should be at the same height
  6. Adjust the monitor height so that the top of the screen is at, or slightly below eye level

Good sleeping habits

People with psoriasis and PsA are more likely to have trouble sleeping, which may cause immense fatigue. Other consequences are as follows

Trouble concentrating
Weight gain and obesity, which may put extra stress on the joints
Difficulty remembering things
Mood changes

In addition, poor sleep can make joint pain worse, and may increase swelling. Recognizing the issues that are affecting sleep can help one find relief.


Symptom control is critical

Painful joints or itchy skin can make it difficult to get sound sleep.For those experiencing trouble sleeping or flare-ups, talk to a rheumatologist and dermatologist. They may adjust the medicines and suggest lifestyle changes that may help relieve the symptoms.


Experts say that light is a crucial timekeeper. Darkness and light help signal the body to sleep. Blue light emitted by devices such as phones and tablets cam disrupt a person’s body clock, which is why it is recommended that such devices are kept away before bedtime.


Diagnosing and treating sleep disorders

If the PsA symptoms are monitored properly and a person feels good but is still struggling with sleep, it is recommended that he or she sees a sleep specialist. But one should talk to a rheumatologist before doing so. Some sleep disorders that are commonly seen and require treatment in PsA patients include:

The healthiest solution is to identify the reason(s) for the sleeplessness and fix the problems that are responsible for causing wakefulness.

TRAVELING WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

Traveling can be very exciting, but it can also be stressful especially if a person has PsA. Besides thinking about where to stay,eat and what to pack, one needs to plan and think about managing PsA symptoms while travelling. The ideal way to stay away from vacation worries is to plan in advance. The right preparation can help avoid travel snags(like forgetting to take the medications on the flight), decrease the likelihood of PsA flare-ups,and stay pain-free during thestay.


Here are some tips to help manage PsA before and during the travel:

Check that the medicine prescriptions are current

Book a doctor’s appointment prior to the trip so the doctor can do a thorough assessment and offer tips for managing any flare-ups during the trip

Organize the medications and prepare two sets to put in two different bags for safe measure

Prepare to travel with items that provide comfort such as eye mask, ear plugs, travel pillow, hot or cold packs and a cane or walker

Given the likelihood of morning stiffness, plan outings for later part of the day

Use one’s own cosmetics including shampoo, conditioner, soap, moisturizer, sunblock and lip balm

Stock up the food bag with healthy snacks and plenty of water. Avoid eating junk food

In order to prevent stiff joints, move regularly and stretch throughout the flight



PREGNANCY AND PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

One of the most significant decision couples make is whether or not to have babies. But for a woman with PsA, she has a number of factors to consider if she chooses to get pregnant. These include:

  • What effect will arthritis or the medications have on the baby?
  • Will pregnancy affect one’s arthritis or skin disease?
  • Will the disease have any effect on childbirth?
  • Will the new mother be able to care for her baby due to her physical condition?

Fortunately, in most cases, the answers are quite reassuring. For women with PsA, listed below are things to take note of right from the planning stage to delivery and beyond.


Is psoriatic arthritis hereditary?

Genetics does play a role in PsA. So, there might be a possibility that a child may develop PsA. However, it helps to know that many women with PsA go on to have healthy babies.


Effect of psoriatic arthritis and medications on baby:

Doctor may stop or change medications prescribed for PsA or skin disease. A rheumatologist should weigh in on some of the risks and benefits with regards to medications.


Disease activity during pregnancy:

PsA usually goes in an inactive state (with no flare-ups) during the nine months of pregnancy. But disease activity might vary after pregnancy.


Caring for new baby:

There is a possibility that a flare-up may occur after delivery and one might experience severe fatigue.


Here are some questions that a pregnant woman undergoing a PsA treatment can ask the doctor:
  • Will PsA or its medications affect the baby's development?
  • Will PsA symptoms deteriorate during pregnancy?
  • Will arthritis affect one’s labour period?
  • Will a new mother be physically able to care for her baby after birth?
  • Can women take painkillers during pregnancy for PsA pain? If yes, which ones?
  • Is it likely for a mother to pass PsA on to her child?
  • Can a new mother breastfeed her baby while undergoing PsA treatment?