Staying informed for good health

February 5th, 2010

Collette Devlin discovers that by giving people with arthritis the knowledge and practical skills, they can live their life to the best possible standard

Arthritis is a serious national health problem affecting nearly three-quarters of a million men, women and children: that’s one in every six Irish people. The single biggest cause of disability in Ireland, there over 100 different types of arthritis with a significant majority of the population living with osteoarthritis (OA) – the wear and tear which results in joint and cartilage damage. According to Arthritis Ireland over 40,000 people have the serve inflammatory from called rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 70%of these are women. It’s easy to become over whelmed by your arthritis – by its symptoms and treatments. “It’s important to remember that the best person to manage your arthritis is you”, says John Church of Arthritis Ireland. “Only you can fully feel the discomfort that arthritis may bring to your life”, adds Church.

According to Arthritis Ireland, one of the best ways to manage your arthritis is by keeping yourself well informed. Staying informed about your condition through education programmes, information leaflets and research can help you to better accommodate your arthritis leading to better quality of life. In fact, research shows that a person with arthritis who is well informed about their condition is more likely to lead a better quality of life. “Staying informed is a huge part of self-management. Patients who stay informed and effectively self-manage, show reduced disability from the condition. They generally have better outcomes in terms of pain, psychological wellbeing and depression”, adds John Church.

Elsewhere, there is evidence that people with arthritis experience less pain and fewer swollen joints when they receive education and support in the form of written information, support groups, self help course and such like. Equally, young people with arthritis who attend events specially designed for them, such as day camps, understand their condition better and manage it more effectively.

Staying informed also means that you will be less anxious and better prepared when it comes to meeting your healthcare team. Being informed about your particular type of arthritis, its symptoms, treatments and side effects, will enable you to share as an equal partner in the decisions around your treatment. Arthritis Ireland runs a course for people who want to learn how to live their best life with arthritis. The Living Well with Arthritis programme is an award-winning workshop, which has been proven to decrease your pain. The course teaches techniques to actively manage your arthritis, boosting your quality of life, physical and mental wellbeing, and empowering you to stay on top of your condition.

Arthritis Ireland’s Helpline – 1890 252 846 – is another source of information and support. Manned by volunteers who live with arthritis, they can assist you with questions such as who’s who on your with healthcare team, what questions to ask your GP, and what aids can assist you in your everyday life.

This article is taken from the Irish Independent ‘Health Check’ supplement on Wednesday 3 February.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 4:02 pm |

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