Physical activity is also necessary for good health. It can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, breast and colon cancer, depression, and falls. Physical activity improves sleep, endurance, and even sex. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week, such as brisk walking. Strength training, important for balance, bone health, controlling blood sugar, and mobility, is recommended 2-3 times per week.

Finding ways to reduce stress is another strategy that can help you stay healthy, given the connection between stress and a variety of disorders. There are many ways to bust stress. Try, meditation, mindfulness, yoga, playing on weekends, and taking vacations.

Finally, establish a good relationship with a primary care physician. If something happens to your health, a physician you know -and who knows you – is in the best position to help. He or she will also recommend tests to check for hidden cancer or other conditions. “,”is_pri-03-02T.000000Z”,”updated_at”:”2022-07-22T.000000Z”,”deleted_at”:null,”canonical”:”https:\/\/health.harvard.edu\/topics\/staying-healthy”>>,<"id":17461,"content_source_id":2,"content_type_id":18,"content_access_type_id":1,"title":"Hand>

The joint connecting the thumb and wrist is crucial in everyday activities like opening jars or grasping objects, but if osteoarthritis develops, treatment options are limited and don’t always work well. A new study has demonstrated the effectiveness of occupational therapy for arthritis in this joint of the hand. \n “,”content”:”

When it comes to arthritis, some joints seem to get all the attention. We talk about knees and hips an awful lot. Our knees and hips must work well for walking, and a third or more of misstravel profile adults over age 65 develop osteoarthritis in these joints, resulting in over a million joint replacements in the US each year. \n

But what about the first carpometacarpal joint that connects your thumb to your wrist? That’s surprisingly important, yet most people can’t name it and only become aware of it once it becomes arthritic. Fortunately, research recently confirmed that a common therapy requiring no medication can effectively treat this type of arthritis. \n

The amazing opposable thumb \n

Known more simply as the first CMC joint, it allows us to move our thumb through a wide range of motion. If you appreciate the many uses of opposable thumbs, you can thank the first CMC joint! Having opposable thumbs allows us to grasp objects, open jars, turn doorknobs, write, make a tight fist, turn a key, and perform countless other everyday activities. \n

How do you know if you have first-CMC arthritis? \n

• \n
• aching at the junction of your thumb and wrist \n
• pain that worsens with use, such as using keys, writing, or opening a jar \n
• poor ability to function, including weakness of grip \n
• a bony prominence over the joint, often due to extra bone growth \n
• pain at rest and\/or at night if the arthritis is severe. \n \n

Your doctor may suspect osteoarthritis of the first CMC based on your symptoms and physical examination, but an x-ray can confirm the diagnosis. \n

What treatments can help? \n

A brace, exercise, and education are typically provided through occupational therapy, a form of physical therapy focused on hand and wrist functions essential to activities of daily life, such as bathing or getting dressed. Yet, the impact of occupational therapy had not been comprehensively evaluated. \n

A new study confirms effectiveness of occupational therapy \n

Half were randomly assigned to receive occupational therapy (including education, exercises, braces, and assistive devices) while the other half only received information about osteoarthritis. \n

The results demonstrated that a three-month course of occupational therapy effectively relieved pain at rest and after exercise, and improved grip strength and function. \n