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Media Releases
FUN IN THE SUN: Ten Ways for People with Rheumatoid Arthritis to Make the Most of Their Summer
Columbia, Mo. (June 15, 2005) - Summer vacations are just around the corner, but for many vacationers summer travel can be as exhausting as it is exhilarating. People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) should be particularly aware of the pitfalls of summer travel, says Kathy Donovan Hanson, senior researcher at the Missouri Arthritis Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (MARRTC) at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
However, careful planning and a little foresight is all people with RA need to make the best of their summer.
Here are several simple precautions that all summer travelers should heed:
- Pace thyself
Alternate moving around with sitting down, but don't overdo either of these. Prolonged immobility can be just as bad for your joints as is strenuous physical activity, because sitting for too long might cause stiffness, Donovan Hanson warns.
- Stretch and move
If you travel by car, try to stop every hour or so and stretch and walk around the car for a couple of minutes. The same rule applies if you are traveling by plane. Long, trans-continental flights are especially dangerous, so try to walk up and down the aisle every hour, Donovan Hanson recommends.
- Exercise
Periodically perform gentle, range-of-motion exercises such as ankle rotation, calve massaging, arm and wrist rotation to keep your joints supple and to prevent blood clots from forming, especially if you are on a long flight.
- Stay Warm
Try to sit away from air-conditioning vents that blow a cold stream directly at you and can make you stiff.
- Plan Ahead
Bring a sufficient quantity of the medication you take. If you are traveling overseas, pack extra medication. Always carry your medication in your carry-on luggage so you do not end up sans pills in case your checked-in luggage gets lost. Certain medications need to be refrigerated, so make sure you have access to a fridge during your vacation. If you are using medications that are administered via injection, check with your airline what the current policy for carrying syringes on board is, Donovan Hanson suggests. Current federal guidelines allow syringes on board, but have your prescription with you and bring a letter from your doctor explaining your need to carry a syringe.
- Wheel. Don't Haul
Suitcases with wheels are essential to avoid lugging heavy trunks.
- Wheeling in the Park
If you are planning a daylong or extended tour of, say, a theme park, consider using a courtesy wheelchair to spare your body from overexertion.
- Use Sunscreen
Slather on generous amounts of sunscreen and reapply regularly. This is especially important for people who take medications that make them more sensitive to the sun. Check with your doctor or pharmacist.
- Eat, Drink, Rest
Vacation is a time of fun, when it's easy to lose some good daily habits. To make the most out of your fun time, get adequate sleep, eat a balanced diet, and above all, drink plenty of water. Nothing saps the energy out of your body and the oomph out of your mood as heavy meals and dehydration.
- Beware of the Summer Bugs
Another perennial nuisance of summer travel are infections. West Nile virus is an emergent seasonal threat that has claimed much of the media spotlight lately for its potential to cause fatal infections in people with diabetes, HIV or AIDS. So are people with autoimmune diseases such as RA more prone to developing complications from West Nile?
Not necessarily, says Dr. Chuck Siva, assistant clinical professor of rheumatology at the MU University School of Medicine.
"I am not aware of any connection between increased rate of West Nile infections and rheumatoid arthritis," Siva said.
Certain categories of people with autoimmune diseases, however, may be more prone to developing unusual bacterial and viral infections if they are on high-dose steroid therapy, 40 to 60 mg per day, or if they are on other drug that can suppress the immune system, Siva explains. Rheumatoid arthritis patients typically take 15 mg. or less of steroids per day, and generally do not run in to this problem, Siva says.
A class of immuno-suppressant drugs called biologic-response modifiers, which are used in people with RA and psoriatic arthritis, also increase the risk of developing infections. Such drugs include Remicade, Enbrel and Humira. If you take any of these, heed your doctor's advice on how to stay bug free.
To learn more about how to cope with rheumatoid arthritis, go to www.rahelp.org
Rahelp.org, is an online, research project conducted by MARRTC to evaluate the efficacy of an online self-management program for people with rheumatoid arthritis compared to self-management instruction in traditional clinical settings. The program offers 10 learning sessions to qualified participants: People over 18, residing in the United States and with a confirmed diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. For more information, call 1-888-740-6626.
The Missouri Arthritis Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (MARRTC) was established in 1971 at the University of Missouri-Columbia Arthritis Center. MARRTC is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (H133B031120) and is the only federally funded arthritis rehabilitation research and training center in the country.
As part of the MU Health Communication Research Center (HCRC), MARRTC's mission is to become a national leader in the areas of disability management and communication, improve the quality of life and promote independent living among people who have arthritis and arthritic conditions.
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