If you’ve been navigating the rollercoaster ride of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you’ve probably wondered more than once, “Is my food making this worse?” As a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve had more patients ask me about foods that trigger RA flares than almost anything else. And let me tell you—diet can absolutely make a difference. The…
If you’re anything like me, working long hours in rheumatology and seeing patients battle rheumatoid arthritis (RA) day in and day out, you know how critical diet can be in managing inflammation. And let’s be real—when you’re juggling meds, flares, and fatigue, the last thing anyone wants to think about is complicated food prep. That’s…
If you’re living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you’re probably all too familiar with joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. But what many people—and even some healthcare professionals—don’t realize is that RA and brain inflammation can go hand in hand. As a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand how this disease extends far beyond the joints. In…
If you’re living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you probably already know that what you eat can either help ease your symptoms or make them flare up. Over the years, working closely with patients as a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand how some foods can be real troublemakers for those battling this chronic autoimmune condition….
As a rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve had countless conversations with patients about what really makes rheumatoid arthritis flare—and what actually helps calm it down. Let’s be real: managing rheumatoid arthritis and balancing inflammation triggers is a bit like walking a tightrope. You try to stay steady, but the smallest gust (say, a stressful week or…
Can rheumatoid arthritis lead to heart disease? It’s a question I hear a lot in my practice, and honestly, it’s a super important one. When patients first come to see me, they’re usually focused on their joint pain, swelling, and fatigue — understandably so. But very few realize that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is more than…
If you’ve ever felt like your body was fighting you from the inside out, you’re not alone. I’ve seen it time and again in my years as a Rheumatology nurse practitioner — patients coming in, exhausted, achy, and unsure of why they feel like they’re running on empty. One of the most common culprits? Rheumatoid…
Can rheumatoid arthritis affect memory? This question pops up more often than you might think, especially from patients and families navigating the day-to-day challenges of living with RA. From my experience as a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand how this autoimmune condition goes far beyond just joint pain and stiffness. It can also touch…
If you’ve ever wondered, can rheumatoid arthritis cause kidney problems? you’re definitely not alone. As a rheumatology nurse practitioner, I get this question a lot from patients who are navigating the complexities of RA beyond just joint pain. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is often thought of as a disease that mainly attacks joints, but in reality,…