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Does Stress Have an Effect on Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms?
I've been under a great deal of pressure lately and have noticed that my joint pain due to psoriatic arthritis seems to be worse than usual. Is it all in my head, or does stress have an effect on psoriatic arthritis symptoms?
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Answer
Many people who have psoriatic arthritis notice an increase in symptoms and their severity during times of stress. To make matters worse, the disease itself can increase your level of stress because of joint irritation and mobility issues, causing a vicious circle.
Relaxing activities, such as yoga, can help reduce stress and can also relieve joint stiffness and soreness due to the movement involved. Strength training, flexibility exercises, and endurance exercise can all be a key to symptom improvement as well, because exercise not only reduces stress but it also helps relieve joint stiffness and improve mobility. The key is to try to limit the amount of stress in your life to avoid triggering flare-ups of the disease.
Written by/reviewed by: Paul Zanto, PharmD candidate
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD