Arthritis: more than 100 types

May is National Arthritis Awareness Month. This is what you need to know:

• Arthritis means inflammation of joints and connective tissues.
• Arthritis affects about 1 in 4 of all adults.
• Children can suffer from arthritis, too.
• There are over 100 types of arthritis including Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Osteoarthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Juvenile Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Gout, Lupus, and many more.
• There is no cure for arthritis.

But there are proven ways to manage arthritis. Click on the following links to learn more:

• Learn about your form of arthritis and how to manage it
• Stay active with low-impact exercises, like stretching, yoga, walking, biking, swimming, and resistance (weight) training.
• A healthy weight reduces pressure on joint pain and helps medicines to work better.
• Assess your diet; many foods can help fight inflammation and improve joint symptoms.
• Topical pain-relieving gels, lotions, patches, and sprays can provide temporary relief for aching joints.​
  

Remember, VNA is always here to provide assistance, like in-home physical therapy, when you or your loved ones need it.

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The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, and Warren Counties in Northern New Jersey. Established in 1898, generations have known that just one call to VNA opens the door to quality, patient-centered home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence.

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