“I’ve heard friends say passing off a hangover gets harder the older they get, but they haven’t had to pass off a hangover while living with a chronic illness,” says Eileen Davidson, who has rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

These new guidelines show me that, even on the bad days, I can still do something to improve my health, easing some of the burden and guilt I feel when I skip a workout because of my illness.

Even though arthritis is the number one cause of long-term disability in Canada, the misconception that it only affects the elderly still looms large.

“Before I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, I didn’t really think about the way heat could impact my body and mind,” says Eileen Davidson, a rheumatoid arthritis patient. “But RA changed all of that that.”

“Moving with rheumatoid arthritis was as challenging as I expected it to be, but it was also rewarding in ways I didn’t expect,” says rheumatoid arthritis patient Eileen Davidson.

Physical activity is essential for managing arthritis symptoms and preserving mobility. And yoga is an excellent, gentle, low-impact form of exercise that offers both physical and psychological benefits like stress management techniques, including breathing, mindfulness and relaxation.

Warm weather is easier on the joints, but the sun can trigger unwanted symptoms in people living with different types of arthritis. For this reason, there are several factors to consider before catching some rays. Do you take medications that cause sun sensitivity? Do you have complications that make it difficult for you to handle heat?

Having a team of doctors and a community you trust can make all the difference when managing a chronic condition.

Eileen Davidson used to have a flair for the dramatic when it came to hair, clothes, makeup, and clubbing. Now her definition of flair — or rather, flare — is much different.

The coronavirus is causing long-term symptoms in some people. Those who live with autoimmune and other health disorders have wisdom to share.