Stress and Arthritis.
Last updated Tuesday, January 04, 2005
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About stress
People with arthritis, like everyone else, can benefit from learning to cope with stress in a positive way.What is stress? Stress is a term used to describe the body and mind's reaction to everyday tensions and pressures. Too much stress can increase pain, and can make a person more prone to illnesses such as heart disease or mental problems. Are stress and arthritis related? Too much stress can also make it harder for people with arthritis to
face the extra problems imposed by their disease. These problems may
include medical expenses, changes in lifestyle, side effects from
drugs, and concern about the future. By learning to cope with stress in
a positive way, you can reduce your pain, feel healthier, and deal
better with the extra demands of your disease. It is for these reasons
that stress management is an important part of taking care of your
arthritis. Learning stress management, or how to cope with stress in a
positive way, is a skill. Like any skill, it needs to be practiced.
This information first explains how the body and mind react to
stressful events. Then it describes a program for managing stress. For
more help, ask your doctor or see a counselor or psychologist.
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