Self-management for patients with rheumatoid arthritis

  (1) Balanced diet: Since the consumption of the disease and the use of immunosuppressants suppress the normal immune function, patients should eat a balanced diet with high protein, high vitamin, high calcium and high iron, and eat more fresh fish, green beans, tofu and olive oil to improve their nutritional status and increase their resistance to disease.  (2) Avoid environmental factors that trigger the aggravation of rheumatoid arthritis: Maintain proper indoor temperature and humidity, avoid humidity and cold. Avoid infection and overexertion, and lead a regular life so as not to aggravate joint symptoms.  (3) Actively participate in social activities: Study, work and live normally during the remission period of joint inflammation, and actively participate in social activities to gain a sense of self-worth and satisfaction from family, friends and work.  (4) Adhere to functional exercise: The purpose of functional exercise is to relieve pain, reduce deformity, and maintain joint function. Start as early as possible in the disease, be persistent and progressive, so that the exercise program is operable. Exercise is appropriate to recover strength 2 hours after activity or not to feel excessive fatigue the next day. Avoid excessive activities when joint pain and swelling are obvious to avoid aggravating joint damage. Perform joint stretching exercises to avoid muscle atrophy. Kick, soak in hot springs, and walk in water often to exercise joint function, but avoid activities that can easily aggravate joint damage such as going up stairs and climbing for a long time.  (5) standardized medication: rheumatoid arthritis drug therapy mainly includes: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs, glucocorticoids and biological agents. Each type of drug has its own indications and respective characteristics and side effects, to choose the appropriate treatment plan under the guidance of a rheumatologist. Standardize the use of drugs, and eliminate the mentality of luck, because the fear of side effects of drugs and stop or change drugs on their own may aggravate the disease.  (6) Regular follow-up: Regularly follow up at the rheumatology outpatient clinic of a general hospital to monitor the side effects of drugs and disease activity indicators, and timely adjust the drugs according to changes in the condition so that the condition is always controlled in the ideal state.