How Does Dehydration Affect Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune condition that affects your joints and can impact other parts of your body. It requires medical treatment to manage symptoms, but certain lifestyle factors can impact your well-being with RA.

Hydration is not directly linked to RA flares, but drinking enough water may help you feel better, reduce inflammation, and keep your joints cushioned.

Dehydration can also cause symptoms, so it’s important to try to prevent the condition to avoid experiencing them.

How dehydration affects arthritis
Drinking enough water helps your body function properly.

Water helps cushion your joints, which RA and other types of arthritis affect. It’s important to keep your joints working as well as possible when you have RA or other joint-related conditions.

Water can also help reduce inflammation in your body by flushing out toxins. Inflammation can cause joint swelling and discomfort.

Dehydration is a condition that occurs when your body does not have enough fluid. You may experience dehydration because of:

• Being in hot weather.
• Having a gastrointestinal illness that cuses vomiting, diarrhea, or urinating too frequently.
• Taking a medication that causes you to urinate too much.
• Sweating a lot.
• Having a fever.
• Failing to drink enough water daily.

Symptoms of dehydration include:

*thirst
*dry lips and skin
*lightheadedness
*dizziness
*fainting
*fatigue

Fatigue is also a symptom of RA.

To treat dehydration, you need to take in more fluids. Mild cases of dehydration can be treated with drinking fluids at home. Severe dehydration may require you to visit a hospital to receive intravenous (IV) fluids.

Other things that can make RA worse
Certain environmental factors can cause RA flares. Triggers can include:

• stress
• inadequate sleep
• illness
• smoking
• obesity
• lack of physical movement

If you have RA, your body may feel best when you’re taking good care of yourself. Eating a nutritious diet that helps you maintain a moderate weight, staying physically active, and getting enough sleep may help in managing your symptoms.