Got Morning Stiffness? It Could Be Serious

Let’s face it – none of our bodies are quite as limber as they used to be.

And lots of times, the problem starts as soon as you roll out of bed.

You start your morning with stiff, aching joints.

But it turns out that morning stiffness could actually be a sign of something much more serious.

I’ll tell you when you should be concerned—and more importantly, what to do about it.

A little stiffness in the morning might go hand-in-hand with age.

But if you’ve found that your stiffness doesn’t go away after an hour or so, it could be early sign of rheumatoid arthritis.

This autoimmune condition occurs when your body attacks its own joints. It causes inflammation that results in pain, swelling, and stiffness so severe that they can be crippling.

But it doesn’t happen overnight.

It turns out that morning stiffness that lasts longer than an hour—or stiffness that occurs after sitting for a period of time—could be one of the earliest signs.

It can occur in your fingers, knees, wrists…any joint in the body, really.

But while having stiff, sore joints might make you want to NOT move them, that’s about the worst thing you can do. Because too often, this stiffness is the result of a LACK of activity.

Other important factors include being overweight (it’s very hard on your joints) and poor diet (which can contribute to the inflammation that is the underlying cause of the pain).

If you’re dealing with frequent morning stiffness, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor.

Second, make sure you KEEP MOVING. Exercise (even something as simple as walking) can help clear away inflammation from the body, while also releasing feel-good hormones.

Diet also plays a key role in keeping that inflammation at bay.

Six of the best anti-inflammatory foods include fish, fruits and vegetables, olive oil, beans, nuts and seeds, and green tea.

To a brighter day,

Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.