Top triggers of rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups

If you have experienced a rheumatoid arthritis flare-up, you likely want to know how you can avoid it from happening again in the future.

Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system isn’t working properly and attacks the lining of the joints, causing joint inflammation and pain. This makes it difficult to move and perform daily activities since symptoms range from chronic pain to heat and swelling in your joints.

Those who have this condition can experience painful flare-ups where inflammation is high, and the symptoms are worse than usual. Flares are usually slotted into two categories: predictable and have a known trigger, and unpredictable, where the trigger is unclear.

“Rheumatoid arthritis can be triggered by a variety of factors and often only happen when you have a genetic predisposition,” says Dr. Sleiman Raddawi, a rheumatologist at Advocate Health Care. “There can be environmental factors that increase your risk of flare–ups, or it can be a risk factor that’s completely out of your control, like age and family history.” 

Some rheumatoid arthritis triggers include: 

• Smoking: The most important action you can take to prevent flare–ups is to stop smoking. Even if you’re genetically predisposed to getting rheumatoid arthritis, not smoking decreases your risk of developing the condition in the future. Smoking also increases your risk of inflammation, and it can decrease the effectiveness of the medication used to treat it.  
• Environmental factors: Air pollution, secondhand smoke and other toxic elements can cause inflammation and trigger arthritis. Avoid time outside when the pollution is high. 
• Stress: High levels of stress can increase inflammation in your body, especially long-term stress, which can cause more persistent flare–ups. 
• Overexertion: Doing too much, too soon can trigger inflammation and make your joints stiff. Instead, start slow and work your way up to more intense exercise. 
• Hormones: Women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than men. Research suggests that symptoms might change before or after pregnancy. 

Managing your rheumatoid arthritis 

The best way to manage your rheumatoid arthritis and its symptoms is by adjusting your lifestyle. Some of those changes include:

• Engaging in regular, low impact exercises, like swimming and walking.
• Strengthening your joints with weightlifting.
• Maintaining a healthy weight.
• Eating a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and omega-3 fatty acids.
• Managing your stress by practicing yoga, meditating or doing deep breathing.

“Managing your rheumatoid arthritis comes down to understanding your triggers,” says Dr. Raddawi. “You can also help your case by adjusting your lifestyle habits, but many people will also need to go on medication. Your rheumatologist will help determine if you need treatment or not.”

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