The World Health Organization advises a few basic measures for protecting against COVID-19.
These include:
The coronavirus pandemic is causing increased stress and anxiety, particularly for people with physical and mental health problems.
With the government urging all of us to minimise social contact and for vulnerable people to self-isolate, we reiterate our message to all those living with arthritis: you are not alone.
Yes, in the short-term we may have to sacrifice doing the things we enjoy and may have fewer opportunities to spend time with our friends and family, but there are plenty of ways to keep your mind and body active, even when you're at home.
On this page, you'll find handy advice for staying connected with loved ones as well as tips for living a healthy life within closed quarters and guidance on how to manage your arthritis.
The World Health Organization advises a few basic measures for protecting against COVID-19.
These include:
Symptoms include:
Most cases of coronavirus in the UK have been mild, meaning the symptoms were similar to that of the common cold.
In severe cases, it may cause pneumonia and kidney failure.
These symptoms are also common in many viral conditions, including the common cold and flu. Having these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you have coronavirus.
It is important to try and exercise whenever possible whether you are minimising social contact or in self-isolation.
As you're well aware, staying active is vital when you're trying to manage the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis.
Over the last few years we’ve published lots of fitness tips for those living with arthritis and also shared easy-to-do exercises that can be done indoors.
Now's the perfect time to renew your acquaintance with them.
While you can't “boost” your immune system through diet, and no specific food or supplement will prevent you catching COVID-19 you should still look to eat heathily.
It's all the more important if you're getting less exercise than usual because you're confined to your home.
If you're looking for inspiration, take a look at the anti-inflammatory recipes from our archive.
There has been some confusion as to whether or not it is safe to take ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatorys (NSAIDs).
Versus Arthritis relay the following advice from the NHS:
“There is currently no strong evidence that ibuprofen can make coronavirus (COVID-19) worse. But until we have more information, take paracetamol to treat the symptoms of coronavirus, unless your doctor has told you paracetamol is not suitable for you. If you are already taking ibuprofen or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) on the advice of a doctor, do not stop taking it without checking first."
If you want to talk to us, get in touch via Facebook and Twitter. We're very proud of the community we've built on Facebook, where our friends are always keen to share their own advice.