EXPERTS
OUR
Suzy Cohen, R.Ph., is
a registered pharmacist,
syndicated columnist and
ASK
author of The 24-Hour
Pharmacist (Collins, 2007).
*E-mail your questions to askpharmacist@ GreatHealthMag.com.
A:Joint pain can sneak up on you, with just a minor ache in your finger, for example. Before you know it, the pain has crept into your knees, your back and your neck. The term for this condition is arthritis, which literally means “joint inflammation.” Arthritis doesn’t evoke the same fear as heart disease, yet it is the nation’s leading cause of disability, resulting in about 750,000 hospitalizations and 36 million outpatient visits every year. You may feel like you’re stuck in a body riddled with pain, but you’re wrong. With a little more information, you can become proactive and start enjoying your life again.
Think Heat and Humidity Before you start taking medications or supplements, think about the weather. Cold air increases stiffness in your swollen joints. Think hot and humid. If you can’t move
to St. Maarten, then take a nice hot bath. That’s right, a good soak can ease the pain in your achy joints in minutes. Add 1 cup of Epsom salts to your bath. These salts work by imparting magnesium to the bath water. Magnesium goes into your body through your skin and relieves pain, loosens up tight muscles and boosts mood. Kick it up a notch and add a few drops of oil of wintergreen. Light a candle and breathe deeply. This may be the only quiet time you get all day! When you get out, you will feel more flexible and relaxed. You can also get a quick fix-me-up by buying yourself a moist heating pad or one of those new heat wraps that you can apply and wear for eight to 12 hours. This provides instant relief to one area.
Creams, Gels and Lotions You’ll find dozens of topical products at your local pharmacy, and you
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