How do I know if I’m overweight?
The best indicator to find out if you are a healthy weight for your height is to check your body mass index (BMI) and what steps to take if you are overweight.
Will skipping meals help me lose weight?
No – Eating at regular times during the day, including breakfast, helps burns calories at a faster rate. It also reduces the temptation to snack on foods high in fat and sugar.
Are there any foods that help arthritis?
There’s no specific food that helps arthritis although some people feel certain foods help reduce their symptoms and may have anti-inflammatory effects. It’s important to have healthy, balanced diet when you have arthritis.
Will an e-cigarette help me stop smoking?
Many people find e-cigarettes, also knowns as vapes, helpful for stopping smoking especially when combined with expert support. E-cigarettes are not completely risk free but they carry a fraction of the risk of cigarettes
What is the maximum I can drink per week without putting my health at risk?
No more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, for both men and women, is advised to keep health risks from alcohol to a low level. Easy-to-understand guide to give you the facts and advice on alcohol units and measures.
Is work good for my health and wellbeing?
Yes – There is strong evidence showing that work is generally good for your physical and mental health and wellbeing especially if your job is meaningful and you have a supportive working environment. Working also helps to reduce financial worries, further improving your health and wellbeing.
Is loneliness the same as social isolation?
No – People can be isolated but not feel lonely and people can be surrounded by other people, yet still feel lonely. However, both can have a negative effect on your health and wellbeing so it is important you start socially connecting with others.
Is it important that I understand my health problem?
Yes – Understanding information about your own health problem can massively improve your long-term health outcome by giving you more control in making the best decisions about your condition. This is known as health literacy. Contact your healthcare team if you need more information about your condition so that you can become an ‘expert’ for your own health.
Can I exercise with arthritis?
Yes – Exercise has been proven to help reduce the pain of arthritis and improve function and strengthen the muscles that protect and support the joints.
Exercise does not have to be vigorous to produce benefits. Even gentle stretching can improve balance and help keep the joints moving, and simple walking can dramatically improve fitness and reduce joint pain. Click Here for more information about exercise and arthritis.
Start slowly and build up both the amount and intensity of what you do and don’t worry if it’s sore to begin with – you won’t be damaging your joints.
No one type of exercise is proven to be more effective than others so just pick an exercise you enjoy, that you can afford to maintain in the long-term and that fits in with your daily schedule.
Will exercise hurt or harm my joints?
No – When you first start exercise, you may feel a temporary increase in discomfort and stiffness. This is normal and will usually settle after a day or so. The pain after exercise will eventually become less if you keep going. Exercise will not do any harm to your joints.
If you having an episode where your joints are more painful and swollen, it is still important to so some exercise although maybe slightly reduce the amount for a short period or focus on exercising the other areas of the body until things settle again.
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