Arthritis is a condition when one or more joints in the body like hands, feet, shoulders and elbows get inflamed. Rarely, arthritis is associated with medical conditions affecting other parts of the body. The inflammation could be caused due to an autoimmune disease, or a broken bone or an infection caused by a bacteria or virus. Osteoarthritis being the most common type of arthritis, other types of this disease could be ankylosing spondylitis, gonococcal arthritis, or reactive arthritis (reiter syndrome) or rheumatoid arthritis (in adults) amongst some of its other forms. People ailing with arthritis should follow specific precautions to avoid further complications especially while traveling like going towards mountains. Taking safety protections can help you enjoy a safe vacation.
Get plenty of sleep
The pleasures of trekking in the mountain ranges or going for a holiday at the mountains could also involve altitude sickness. Plenty of sleep is a must before planning a vacation to high altitudes. Generally while traveling, getting the minimum amount of sleep, generally 7-8 hours, gets tough. If on the mountains during the day, take adequate naps to help you recover from a flare-up more quickly. Avoid any high impact activities, however endurance exercises are not a problem. Generally one tends to climb up rapidly in excitement, but for patients suffering from arthritis, this could lead to serious consequences. During your holiday, ensure not to comprise with your sleep. By receiving adequate amounts of sleep or rest, the patient can perform better, physiologically and mentally. Also, try to stay out of the sun for prolonged periods of time to eliminate risks of heat strokes. Build in rest times during your travel to mountains to do any stretches you need to do.
Protect your joints
Patients ailing from arthritis must take precautions to protect their joints, when traveling at mountains. Be aware of your body position at all times and maintain a good posture to protect the back and joints, pay attention to any kind of pain that you experience during your holiday. Always take a gradual ascent and avoid prophylaxis, especially if you are suffering from arthritis. Avoid any form of activity that puts a strain on your joints that are already painful or stiff. Getting involved in various activities during holidaying like recreational walking can be helpful to burn calories, thereby strengthening the muscles around the joints, but make sure that you do not go overboard. This might create complications like increased pain or stiffness or swelling at the joints. Always travel light especially if suffering from arthritis. Try to carry suitcases with wheels. You may quickly apply ice to your bad joints for about 20 minutes in case you experience shooting pain or swelling. Try to prevent injuries to your joints at any cost.
Watch for any medicinal side effects
Although medication is not recommended at the start of the treatment of arthritis, most people ailing from arthritis eventually begin taking some form of medication to ease their pain or reduce the swelling. These medications have interactions with other over-the-counter drugs or prescribed drugs taken for underlying medical conditions. If you are on a medication to treat arthritis, be cautious of any drug interactions that may occur with other holistic or herbal supplements that you may consume during your holidays as many herbal remedies are suggested by the locals at the mountains. During your vacation, be watchful of the medications you consume as you might not be able to return to your local city doctor for immediate help. Always inform your doctor about your holidays at the mountains and seek his permission about your fitness before packing your bags. Always carry a first-aid box and other essentials with you.
Smoking should be avoided
A person suffering from arthritis should not smoke while traveling to mountains. When a person smokes, the nicotine present in the cigarette leads to vasoconstriction. This obstructs proper blood flow causing arthritis to become worse. The oxygen levels at mountains are low and one does tend to struggle initially for oxygen flow if the person is at higher altitude. Smoking can worsen the situation, impacting the painful joints. It is proven that rheumatoid arthritis can get worse due to smoking and the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis increases for smokers, especially while traveling to high altitudes. Researchers have suggested that there is an interaction between smoking and immune system, raising the level of rheumatoid factor in the body. While traveling to mountains, excessive smoking has been consistently linked to arthritis. It should be noted that apart from other health risks, smoking raises rheumatoid arthritis risk.
Mobility gets affected
A person ailing from arthritis cannot walk far or climb mountains or stand for long. In many situations, use of wheelchair is recommended by the doctor. One should also always avoid any activities like lifting or carrying things. This could lead to increased pain or swelling at the joints. The inflammation of the joints that occurs with arthritis elevate during long trips especially when the movement is restricted. If you are planning to travel by air, try to book an aisle seat. This will help you to get in and out giving you slightly more room if you need to stretch out a bit. This way you won’t have to bother other people around. While climbing mountains, take frequent breaks to relieve stiff joints and muscles. A person ailing from arthritis can generally feel the pain during and after exercise, even walking. It usually hurts and the pain increases after you have finished. It is therefore recommended that people suffering from arthritis should avoid long stretches of walk in one go. Carry anti-inflammatory drugs as suggested by your doctor or any other medication you normally consume for combating arthritis. If traveling by car, try different driving time limits as per your convenience. Take a break every hour, to get out of the car and walk around, do some stretches to reduce any form of stiffness in your joints. Once you reach your destination, get a warm bath or shower for about 20 minutes to relax you and your muscles.
Follow a healthy and recommended diet
Food is another factor one should consider while traveling if suffering from arthritis. Patients suffering from this disease should eat a healthy diet, full of fruits and vegetables, which contain important vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin E. One should consume stuff that is rich in omega 3 fatty acids. You should consume a lot of fluids as they are easy to get caught up in the excitement of a vacation and get dehydrated. Drink plenty of water and other form of fluids to avoid dehydration, and don’t wait until you feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine as they tend to dehydrate a body even more. Higher intake of anti-inflammatory foods is recommended like turmeric, ginger, apples and more. Also, one should avoid foods like purines and high protein diet such as beans and meats. Avoid food with preservatives and additives.
Consider any symptoms causing pain or swelling
While traveling to mountains, your body could get overly exerted leading to excessive pain or swelling around your affected joint. If such a condition persists beyond 3 days with severe unexplained joint pain, please call or contact your health care specialist immediately. Paying no attention or little attention could lead to severe stiffness or may lead to you suffering from a fever or lower weight. In case you are unable to contact your doctor, plan a trip back to your local destination. Deterring from taking a prompt action may hamper your health.
Let your family know about your physical safety
Avoid going anywhere with a stranger, even during the day. For emergency situations, always carry a cellphone and keep in touch with your family to let know that you are doing fine. Keep your identification with you. Do not over strain yourself with excessive driving or any such activity as it may lead to severe inflammation of the joints due to excessive pressure.
Be aware of motion sickness
Motion sickness is an unpleasant condition to be in, while holidaying. To avoid any form of motion sickness, one should avoid sitting on the front seat of the car. You should also avoid reading as it heightens the feeling of motion sickness. While you are reaching towards your destination via car or bus, avoid taking any medication as it may cause illness related to motion sickness like nausea. Match your arthritis medicinal schedule with your travel plan. Going on a mountain vacation via bus or car involves lot of round stretches, which can cause drowsiness and nausea. Medication could add to this drowsiness and lead to severe health complications. You can choose to treat your motion sickness with ginger, which is an excellent herb that handles arthritis and motion sickness. Compounds present in ginger exert an anti-inflammatory action, thereby relieving motion sickness and excessive joint pain during travel towards mountains.