Common habits that worsen psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is a disease characterized by inflammatory arthritis in patients with psoriasis, an autoimmune disease. The inflammation can affect not only joints but other structures around the joints.
For example, psoriatic arthritis can manifest as enthesitis, which is inflammation of the sites where tendons or ligaments insert into the bone; dactylitis, which is inflammation of an entire finger or toe; and/or spondylitis, which is inflammation in the spine and/or pelvis.
Psoriatic arthritis has genetic predisposition—40% of those with psoriatic arthritis have a family history of psoriasis—and trauma to a joint or infections such as strep throat may play a role.
What’s making it worse?
Common habits can worsen inflammation in your body and thus worsen the effects of psoriatic arthritis. These inflammation-increasing habits include not getting enough sleep and having a high-fat diet. Smoking increases the risk and severity of psoriatic arthritis.
Obesity can also worsen the effects of psoriatic arthritis, as the extra weight puts increased stress on already inflamed joints and decreases your response to biologic drugs used in treatment.
What are some better habits?
Try to have a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Certain foods can help fight inflammation; for example, fiber switches immune cells from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory. Fish oil can enhance the immune system, so eating fish two to three times a week can be beneficial. Consuming alcohol should be done in moderation—it can also mix poorly with medication.
Exercise regularly. Just 20 minutes of moderate exercise can stimulate the immune system and cause an anti-inflammatory response.
Quit smoking – Smoking may make some treatments for psoriatic arthritis less affective.
Try to get enough sleep. While getting too little sleep causes inflammation, adequate deep sleep strengthens the immune system’s memory.
Try to reduce stress. Psychosocial stress activates inflammation in the body. Stress-reducing activities like meditation can be beneficial.
Avoid infection. Make sure to wash your hands regularly to avoid picking up harmful germs from your environment.
Maintain a healthy weight. Dietary weight reduction with a hypocaloric diet is recommended for overweight patients because weight loss improves the severity of psoriatic arthritis and the response of obese patients to the treatment with biologicals.
Good ways to lessen the effect of psoriatic arthritis
- Low-impact exercise (tai chi, yoga, swimming)
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Weight loss
- Massage
- Acupuncture
- Stop smoking
Zhanna Mikulik is a rheumatologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
More from Ohio State
Online price list gives you clarity for your health care
Online hospital charge lists can give you clarity for your healthcare costs, but like our medical care – we want to personalize it to you.
Sen. Brown tours COVID-19 testing site at CAS
Sen. Brown talks with members of the Ohio National Guard who’ve joined health care workers across the state on the front lines in the battle against COVID-19.
Decades of leadership experience prove vital in the state’s fight against COVID-19
Dr. Andrew Thomas and his decades of leadership experience at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have been vital in the state’s fight against COVID-19.
