Does Maintaining Healthy Weight Help with Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Ankylosing Spondylitis is an inflammatory form of arthritis which is known to affect the spine and has symptoms like pain, stiffness and fatigue, therefore, making exercising a difficult process for the patient. In advanced cases, inflammation may occur leading to the development of bony growths around the spine, therefore, causing it to fuse into a fixed and immobile position. This has been found to interfere with one’s ability to exercise regularly as well as maintain a healthy weight. 
Leading a healthy lifestyle for people with Ankylosing Spondylitis can help in alleviating pain as well as other problems. Pain experienced when one has Ankylosing Spondylitis prevents exercising therefore the need to maintain a healthy weight.
Does maintaining healthy weight help with Ankylosing Spondylitis? 
Yes it does and the following ways can help to explain how. 
Less joint pain 
According to medical specialists, being overweight can lead to severe joint pain around the spine and the hips to be worse. This can make one’s life to be unbearable therefore hindering them from going about their duties with ease.
 
The extra body weight increases the load on the joints, therefore, making it harder for one to exercise in order to lose weight. Since one cannot exercise, in order to eliminate the joint pain types around the hips and the spine, one needs to maintain a healthy body weight. Not only will you reap the benefits of leading a healthy life, but you will eliminate severe joint pain. 
Increases energy levels 
For patients who are overweight and have Ankylosing Spondylitis, they get to experience pain due to pressure being exerted on the joints, hips and the spine. This makes exercising a difficult thing to do therefore making weight loss difficult to achieve.
 
When one maintains a healthy weight, they are able to exercises even when they have Ankylosing Spondylitis. Exercising allows one to boost their energy levels as it helps to allow blood to flow to all muscles as well as increasing metabolism rate. 
Have a healthier heart 
The heart is a vital organ in the body that helps in pumping oxygenated blood to all parts of the body while also pumping de-oxygenated blood to the lungs where it is oxygenated and pumped around the body again.
 
Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis usually have increased risk of heart disease. The risk can be lowered by maintaining a healthy weight as well as performing regular exercises which help to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and the risk of getting diabetes. 
It is important to remember that weight loss does not have to be dramatic, but it needs to be gradual. 
 
Increases flexibility 
Ankylosing Spondylitis affects the joint, spine and hips therefore when one exercises, it helps one to maintain and improve their strength, flexibility and posture. According to medical specialists, regular exercises can help to prevent stiffness as well as maintain range of motion around the neck and back.
 
Increased flexibility allows one to conduct their duties with ease. 
Final thoughts 
For people with Ankylosing Spondylitis, being overweight can increase pain around the joints. This makes exercising a difficult thing to do. In order to achieve the ideal weight when one has Ankylosing Spondylitis, one can opt for other methods in the mean time. They include eating healthy foods rich in vitamins, fiber, minerals, anti oxidants and protein. These foods include fruits like apples and vegetables like spinach. 
Leading a healthy lifestyle especially for people with Ankylosing Spondylitis, allows them to regain the ability to exercise. This enables one to maintain healthy body weight as well as eliminate severe joint pain.
 
Benefits that one will get to gain when they maintain a healthy body weight include increased flexibility, increased energy levels, prevention of heart diseases and reduced joint pain.
References
http://daisygrace1.livejournal.com/752.html
http://guidelineshealth.com/health-care/5-foods-that-cause-joint-pain/