If you or someone from your family suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and you need some help and advice, you're reading the right article. Rheumatoid arthritis as you probably already know all too well, is a potentially dangerous autoimmune disorder that is responsible for much more than just problems with joints, but may also affect the condition of heart and lungs. What is worse, rheumatoid arthritis always attack both sides of the body simultaneously. For example, inflammations always happen at both hands at the same time. If you add to this the sad truth that this form of arthritis is also extremely painful, it is clear that this disease will cause problems to all who suffer from it - in every area of their lives.

Currently, there is no way to cure rheumatoid arthritis. Fortunately, there are a few ways to help those who suffer from this disease. From medications that slow down the progress of the disease and get rid of pain to small changes in one's lifestyle - there are still hundreds of things one can do to make the life a bit easier.

The first thing you can do is, of course, some physical activity like swimming, jogging or other similar sports such as tennis. Ask your doctor about the specific exercises that could be the most beneficial in your situation. Basically, rheumatoid arthritis is much less dangerous if you keep your muscles and joints in top condition. Do not put too much stress on your joints though - learn how to bend properly, avoid lifting heavy weighs and make sure that your joints do not work too much - you have to keep them moving, though.

Pain is certainly the worst condition related with rheumatoid arthritis. While sometimes taking prescription pills to quell the pain is the only way to get rid of it, usually the best solution is to use heat or cold to reduce pain. The exact effectiveness of heat or cold may be different depending on the individual predispositions, so you have to check what works best. Hot showers can generally bring much needed relief to muscles and soreness, while ice packs work best to reduce pain in the inflamed areas.

As for the diet, a recent research report published in the Journal of Rheumatology points that Omega-3 fatty acids (as well as other fish oil acids) have strong effects on rheumatoid arthritis, reducing the pain and having some mild anti-inflammatory effect. Adding Omega Daily, a food supplement containing Omega-3 acids, might be a good idea indeed, though adding a decent amount of tuna, herring or salmon to your diet may have a similarly good result.