DR. CRAYTON Continues to SPREAD Seasonal WARMTH!

For the THIRD year in a row, Dr. Hulon Crayton, Rheumatologist and owner of The Arthritis & Infusion Center, has seen the need for people to stay warm. “Cold rooms have a significant impact on people’s health,” said Dr. Crayton. One of the best ways of keeping yourself well during winter is to stay warm. Keeping warm over the winter months can help prevent colds, flu, or more serious health conditions such as pneumonia and depression. 

           

“When we became aware of the situation at the Children’s Home Society of Florida, we knew we had to take immediate action by purchasing extra blankets for the children to utilize,” said Dr. Crayton.

           

Felicia Robinson Cook, Director of Development at the Children’s Home Society of Florida was very grateful to Dr. Crayton and his team. “We never seem to have enough blankets to go around since our kids need to stay warm, may be transient, and must take their belongings with them. We are so very grateful to Dr. Crayton for this donation,” said Ms. Cook.

            

This winter, The Arthritis & Infusion Center would like to encourage Bay County residents to clean out their linen closets or purchase NEW blankets for Dr. Crayton and his staff to distribute to the Children’s Home Society of Florida. “We’d like to continue to ‘spread the warmth’ as much as possible. People who are interested in helping us with this important project can drop blankets at our medical practice any Monday through Thursday, 2917 Highway 77 in the Baldwin Plaza,” said Dr. Crayton. "Help us continue to spread the warmth during this entire winter season!" 

The Arthritis & Infusion Center will collect blankets to distribute from December 1 until March 31 at their medical practice. (Their office is closed between 12 noon and 1:30 each day.)

Arthritis Sufferers: Five Tips to Survive the Winter

The weather in northwest Florida rarely gets frigid during the winter months, but Arthritis sufferers are more susceptible to any changes in temperatures. At The Arthritis & Infusion Center, we are used to providing our patients with guidelines in order to enhance their quality of life. Here are five things to remember as we move into the fall/winter months:

1. Maintain a healthy diet:  Everyone needs to have a healthy diet, but people who suffer from Arthritis must be even more vigilant. Oily fish, and the usual fruits, grains, and vegetables should be the first items on your plate … but 
2. Portion control is also an issue for many, because being overweight can aggravate Arthritis symptoms and cause your joints to ache. 
3. Ask Dr. Crayton if you should be taking dietary supplements. In addition to eating correctly, there are dietary supplements, specific to Arthritis, which may be recommended depending on your condition. And, as with any other healthy diet, drinking adequate amounts of water is important in flushing your system and preventing you from becoming dehydrated. 
4. Keep your joints covered and warm. It should go without saying (and you’ve probably already figured this out for yourself), keeping your joints warm is key to lessening your pain. Keep blankets and appropriate, loose-fitting clothes handy to layer when the temperatures drop. 
5. Exercise and Rest. Isn’t that what your mother always told you? Specialized work-out routines can help you shed pounds, which reduce the stress on your joints. But equally as important is getting adequate sleep. If your joints are sore, rest will be difficult to accomplish. Low impact exercise like cycling or swimming are best for Arthritis sufferers.

 

As you can see, there is no “magic bullet” or unusual regime to follow. It’s all common sense!  Since Arthritis may be hereditary, it is even more important to do everything you can to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But remember:  We always remind our patients – “Pain is not normal. Let us help!” Call for a consult today!