Your Weight and Psoriatic Arthritis

How can someone’s weight have an impact on this form of arthritis? Well, first off, if you are obese or overweight, The Arthritis Foundation states that you are actually at a greater risk of not only psoriasis, but also psoriatic arthritis. Part of the reason why is because, when you are obese or overweight, there is extra pressure placed on your joints. Beyond that, inflammation is also present in the body, doing loads of harm. 

Also, when you are overweight or obese, if you are taking medications for this condition, those medicines might not work as well as they should, according to Medical News Today. Basically, the extra weight can actually prevent medications like DMARDs (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) and biologics from working.

Failing to Get Enough Exercise: A Common Problem

When you have a painful condition like arthritis, you might not feel so motivated to exercise. After all, who would want to work out when they have achy joints? This lack of exercise can cause you to gain excess weight, and if you are already overweight or obese, it can just make your existing weight problems worse than they already are. 

In the end, your joints will only continue to suffer because of the lack of exercise. It’s no wonder that those who carry excess body weight and have been diagnosed with this type of arthritis are more likely to experience more severe symptoms. 

Losing Weight Should Be the Goal

Want to find relief? Well, according to experts, if you are able to lose 10% of your body weight, you might experience as much as a 50% reduction in your pain. Pretty amazing, right? 

Once you lose weight, you will also notice that your response to your medications improves, that your mobility improves, and that your overall health improves as well. 

Talk to Your Doctor About What You Can Do

If you are arthritic and you are overweight or obese, talk to your doctor about steps that you can take to lose the extra weight. By making this important move towards improving your health, your medications can begin working more effectively, and your symptoms can decrease as well.