Living well
Everyday life with a rheumatic condition
Practical guidance on exercise, sleep, diet, pregnancy, travel and using your medicines safely.
Lifestyle
8 guides
Alcohol and Your Medicines
Small amounts of alcohol are fine for many people, but some rheumatology medicines change the math.
Diet and Inflammation
No single diet cures arthritis, but some eating patterns lower inflammation and protect the heart.
Intimacy and Arthritis
Pain, fatigue and medicines can affect intimacy, and these are normal topics to raise with your doctor.
Planning for Surgery
If you are having surgery, some medicines need to be paused and restarted on a schedule.
Sleep and Pain
Poor sleep and pain feed each other, and breaking the cycle helps both.
Smoking and Rheumatic Disease
Smoking makes most rheumatic diseases more likely, more severe and harder to treat.
Travel Checklist
A little planning keeps your treatment on track when you’re away from home.
Working with Arthritis
Most people with arthritis keep working, especially with early treatment and a few practical adjustments.
Medication safety
3 guides
Biologics and Infection Safety
Biologics and JAK inhibitors are very effective and generally safe, with a manageable increase in infection risk.
Using NSAIDs Safely
Anti-inflammatories are useful, but they work best at the lowest dose for the shortest time needed.
Vaccines on Immune-Suppressing Treatment
Vaccines protect you from infections that can be more serious when you take immune-suppressing medicines.
Pregnancy & family
4 guides
Breastfeeding and Medicines
Many rheumatology medicines are compatible with breastfeeding.
Lupus and Pregnancy
With good disease control and close monitoring, most people with lupus have successful pregnancies.
Pregnancy and Rheumatic Medicines
Most people with rheumatic disease can have healthy pregnancies with planning.
RA and Pregnancy
RA often improves during pregnancy but can flare after delivery.
Taking your medicine
3 guides
How to Give a Prefilled Syringe Injection
Prefilled syringes give you control over the speed of injection.
How to Use an Autoinjector Pen
Autoinjector pens make self-injection quick and nearly painless with a little practice.
Sticking with Your Treatment Plan
Medicines only work if they’re taken as prescribed, and many work slowly.
Educational information only. Your own care plan should come from your physician, who knows your full history.