Dealing with stiffness and discomfort in the mornings is a common issue, especially as we age. Understanding the underlying causes and effective remedies can make a significant difference in our daily lives. Harvard Health and Northwell Health provide valuable insights into managing these conditions.

Place your hands on your lower back with your fingertips pointing down. As you inhale, roll your shoulders back and gently lift your chest towards the ceiling, arching your back to a comfortable degree. You should be gazing up at the ceiling in front of you. (Be careful not to overextend your neck.) Hold for three to five breaths.

An unhealthy lifestyle that includes smoking, a poor diet, alcohol consumption, sedentary behavior, stress, and weight gain can cause persistent inflammation. Symptoms of inflammation include redness, pain, warmth, and swelling. Acute inflammation produces these symptoms rapidly, such as when you cut yourself. Your immune system releases white blood cells to surround and protect the injured area. However, chronic inflammation is more gradual and can be a contributing factor to various health issues.

Here’s a look at the top five aches and pains associated with aging and what you can do to get some relief:

Back pain is common, with approximately 80% of people experiencing it at some point. Most will improve with common-sense remedies.

There are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic. Acute inflammation is familiar to many and is characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain around tissues and joints due to injury. Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is more gradual.

Sinus headaches caused by acute sinusitis can result in pain over the forehead, around the nose and eyes, over the cheeks, or in the upper teeth. Stooping forward increases the pain. Symptoms like thick nasal discharge, congestion, and fever point to sinus issues. When the infection resolves, so does the pain.

Inflammatory myopathies, such as myositis, involve the immune system attacking healthy muscle fibers, leading to inflammation, muscle fiber destruction, and symptoms like fatigue and immobility.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is when the immune system attacks the lining of joints, particularly in the hands, wrists, and feet. RA can also affect the heart, lungs, and eyes. Gout, characterized by a buildup of uric acid, can form crystals in joints, especially in the big toe, and sometimes in the hands, wrists, or knees.

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a syndrome causing pain, weakness, numbness, tingling, a sensation of coldness, or general discomfort in the upper body. It commonly affects the upper limbs, arms, hands, armpits, upper back, neck, and pectoral area.

For more detailed information on managing morning stiffness and age-related aches, visit Harvard Health, Harvard Health, Northwell Health, Harvard Health, Harvard Health, HSS, Harvard Health, and HSS.