13. Stress

Intense and persistent stress taxes our bodies’ natural defenses. Psoriasis, the condition that causes psoriatic arthritis, is currently thought to be an immune system disorder, and unfortunately, the immune system is one area of the body that is most interrupted by stress. It’s the wide-ranging impacts of stress that make it so impactful to our overall health. 

Stress isn’t limited to emotional pain; it can also manifest physically… 

12. Physical Stress 

Physical stress aggravates the body. Repetitive physical strain can irritate joints, which are also impacted by psoriatic arthritis. Just like with mental stress, physical stress is incredibly specific to individuals and learning which things cause you stress is a great way to improve your health.

Psoriatic arthritis is often complicated by other things going on in our bodies, such as the following…

11. Weight Gain

Psoriatic arthritis has been shown to be a more severe problem in people with weight concerns. This is because obesity can cause strain on various body systems and eventually contribute to psoriatic arthritis.

Individuals who are overweight can face more frequent and severe flare-ups, too, especially because excess weight causes stress on the joints. 

This next cause can be extremely serious if left untreated… 

10. Injuries

When the body suffers an injury, swelling, stiffness, and mobility problems can occur as the body heals. These symptoms, especially the swelling, can cause a psoriatic arthritis flare-up. The added strain on the joints aggravates this condition and sometimes leads to more frequent outbreaks.

When it comes to psoriatic arthritis, it’s all about how much strain you place on the following part of your body… 

9. Joint Strain

Too much strain is dangerous for our joints, as we all know. Joints are sensitive locations on the body, and overworking them, whether from a repetitive movement or lifting too much weight, can cause a flare-up, especially in people with psoriatic arthritis.

Stopping joint strain from causing a flare-up is all about knowing your physical limits. This kind of self-knowledge also helps with the next cause…

8. Lack of Sleep

A lack of sleep links to worse health outcomes overall. Our bodies need regular, reliable sleep in order to stay healthy. When your sleep becomes irregular and interrupted, your health can start to decline. This can also create secondary medical conditions, such as stress, that also trigger flare-ups.

There are steps you can take to correct poor sleep habits, though. Another easy change to make that helps with psoriatic arthritis involves…

7. Smoking

Smoking contributes to poor health outcomes in a variety of ways. Smoking can also aggravate the immune system and contribute to flare-ups in that way.

All in all, smoking is bad for our health. Just like with our diets, it’s all about controlling what we bring into our bodies…

6. Alcohol

Alcohol can trigger a psoriatic arthritis flare-up for a variety of reasons. When you consume too much alcohol, you can dehydrate your body, which leads to flare-ups. Alcohol consumption also leads to problems that lower our overall quality of life and health.

Staying in control of what we eat and drink can go a long way to making psoriatic arthritis flare-ups more manageable… 

5. Dietary Problems

Certain foods, like greasy, salty or fatty foods, can exacerbate psoriatic arthritis flare-ups, which is another reason why maintaining a healthy diet is so important.

Psoriasis is commonly believed to be an auto-immune disorder which means that any strain on our immune system can cause a flare-up… 

4. Infection

Infections are a potential cause of psoriatic arthritis flare-ups, too. When the body is busy fighting off infection, it often makes other medical conditions worse, as it’s usually intensely focused on getting rid of the sickness. And, psoriatic arthritis is heavily related to our immune systems, so it makes sense why infections can exacerbate psoriatic arthritis flare-ups.

As our bodies change with age, we might have greater trouble dealing with health problems, including psoriatic arthritis… 

3. Your Age

Psoriatic arthritis typically doesn’t set in until a person has reached at least 30 years of age. This is also linked to the development of psoriasis and the increased health problems our bodies face with age. 

Age-related health issues are something we are all going to have to face in time. Another universal is watching out for sunburn… 

2. Sunburn

Overexposure to sunlight usually causes sunburn, which can result in swelling, open wounds, and other injuries that aggravate psoriatic arthritis. Extreme sunburn, known as sun poisoning, is a serious condition on its own, but it also represents a considerable trigger for psoriatic arthritis flare-ups.

Our exposure to the sun is strongly linked with another flare-up risk… 

1. Climate

There is a lot to say about how our climate impacts our health. When the weather changes, our health can change with it. Psoriatic arthritis is particularly sensitive to a variety of climate conditions.

We mentioned earlier how sunburn can trigger flare-ups, but regularly and safely catching some rays is thought to actually help this condition. This means that the winter months can cause flare-ups, as dry climates can dehydrate the skin.

Final Thoughts 

This condition can be treated through a combination of help from your doctor and getting to know what causes your flare-ups. Steroids are one of the most common treatment options for psoriatic arthritis.

You can also do simple things at home that can make big changes. Keeping a journal that tracks your flare-ups can help give you a good idea of what causes them and what steps you can take to make them more manageable. 

1. Swelling

Many patients with psoriatic arthritis experience swelling in the toes and fingers, otherwise known as dactylitis. Also called “sausage fingers and toes,” dactylitis is among the more noticeable symptoms of this condition.

Is the swelling restricted to the fingers and toes?

Sometimes the finger and toes aren’t the only areas affected. You may notice swelling in different areas of your body, such as in your hips, ankles, and even your elbows.

Why does psoriatic arthritis cause dactylitis?

Psoriatic arthritis can inflame joints, which naturally may lead to swelling. Not every part of your body may be inflamed at the same time, though.

How can you manage this symptom?

• If swelling is noticeable in your feet, consider getting shoes that provide you with ample room so that you’re not uncomfortable.
• You can also consider taking over-the-counter NSAIDs that may help reduce the inflammation.
• Managing your stress is another good way to combat inflammation as stress is well-known trigger that can lead to uncomfortable swelling.

When joints swell, it’s incredibly likely that the next symptom will emerge, too…

2. Stiff Joints

Unlike swelling, you won’t see that your joints are stiff. Rather, you’ll feel like it’s more difficult to move. One of the first signs of psoriatic arthritis, this stiffness can be mild or severe. In severe cases, it can lead to pain instead of just general discomfort.

How does psoriatic arthritis cause it?

Psoriatic arthritis is known to cause inflammation. Although that usually leads to swelling, it can also cause your joints to tighten up too much, leading to stiffness.

When does the pain often occur?

It is common for patients with psoriatic arthritis to feel a greater amount of stiffness in the morning. This fact is because your joints steadily become more inflamed through the night, especially because you aren’t moving that much.

How can you manage joint stiffness?

Getting out of bed can be difficult, so you can start managing your joint stiffness by changing your morning routine.

• You can get up earlier to give your body more time to warm up properly. Safe and comfortable stretches are helpful as well to loosen up the joints.
• You can also try to relax the muscles with a warm bath or shower.
• In terms of your diet, consider getting in more vitamin D in as well as ingest other anti-inflammatory foods like green leafy vegetables or the fattier types of fish such as salmon. By reducing the inflammation, you may help alleviate that stiff sensation in your joints.

Unlike this symptom, the following is one that is easy to spot visually…

3. Joint Redness and Warmth

As with joint swelling, your joints may warm up or even have a red appearance that isn’t associated with the skin condition from psoriasis itself. The warmth of your joints can easily be felt by simply touching the area.

How does psoriatic arthritis cause redness and warmth?

Inflammation is the bad guy here yet again. You see, when joints become inflamed, heat is produced at the same time. You might even visibly see the inflammation not just with swelling, but with red discoloration.

How can you manage these symptoms?

Managing joint redness and warmth comes with addressing your diet and medication.

• You can consume more whole grains and plant-based proteins for natural anti-inflammatory relief.
• Many over-the-counter medications can also bring you relief, such as aspirin and ibuprofen.

Of course, when swelling, warmth, and stiffness are present, the following is bound to occur as well…

4. Painful Joints

With all the swelling and stiffness your joints undergo, it can quickly accelerate into pain rather than just an achy annoyance.

How severe is the pain?

The pain severity varies by individual and specific flare-up. Joint pain can be severe enough to completely hinder your activities and make it even more difficult to get around. It can be mild though, simply causing a bout of soreness after basic activities.

How does psoriatic arthritis cause pain?

One of the biggest issues concerning psoriatic arthritis is inflammation. As we learned, this inflammation can cause joint warmth, redness, and stiffness. In some cases, these inflammation side effects are so severe that they cause pain.

How can you manage the pain?

Oftentimes, pain in your joints comes and go. You may have a complete remission period where you won’t feel anything or you may have a drastic flare-up where the pain is constant.

• A good way to deal with this pain is through medication. If the pain you feel is more intense and frequent, your doctor may recommend either over-the-counter pain medication or even prescribe you some.
• You can always try to manage the root cause: inflammation. This management can entail taking anti-inflammatory medication or opting for anti-inflammatory foods and drinks.
• Using hot and cold therapy tends to work well for inflammation, too. Moist heating pads especially seem to be useful in helping to relieve some pain.

When joints are swollen, stiff, and painful, it’s natural for you to experience the following…

5. Loss of Range of Motion

Your joints should have a normal range of motion that allows you to go about your day-to-day routine and generally walk without difficulty. However, those with psoriatic arthritis can experience a loss in this range of motion. This loss effectively means that the distance and direction your joints can move in severely decrease.

How severe is the motion loss?

Bending the knees or lifting the arms a certain way become trying tasks, if not impossible, for some people.

How does psoriatic arthritis cause motion-range loss?

This sign of psoriatic arthritis is more of an indirect symptom. In other words, it is more of a by-product of painful, stiff, and swollen joints than directly a result of the condition itself.

How can you manage this symptom?

The key to improving your range of motion again is in gaining back the flexibility within your joints.

• Your doctor or physical therapist can recommend range-of-motion exercises and stretches that you should perform on a consistent basis.
• The more active routines can be done by yourself at home, while active and passive exercises and stretches require someone to help you.

While some symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are merely temporary, the following can eventually develop as a permanent symptom of the condition…

6. Joint Deformity

Undergoing a good deal of joint pain, stiffness, and motion reduction can have a lasting physical effect on the body in the form of deformities.

What is a joint deformity?

Joint deformity occurs when your joints bend or crook out of place. For those suffering from psoriatic arthritis, this deformity often occurs in the fingers and toes.

Noticeable deformities are often a sign of worsening arthritis.

How does psoriatic arthritis cause this deformity?

Even though this symptom is seen largely in rheumatoid arthritis, those with psoriatic arthritis may experience it as well. Once again, this symptom stems from inflammation.

When deformity occurs, it signals that inflammation has worn down the cartilage in your bones. Combined with swelling, these joint deformities can become painful.

How can you manage this symptom?

Managing joint deformities isn’t something you can do alone because of the severity of the symptom. You’ll have to consult with a doctor and occupational therapist in this case. They may provide a splint to reduce, or at least slow down, any further damage while also giving you a system of exercises and stretches to perform.

Unfortunately, performing certain exercises might be tricky if the upcoming symptom presents itself…

7. Back Complications

“Back complications” is a blanket term to address pain and discomfort found in the neck, shoulders, and back. You may also experience stiffness, swelling, and a loss of range of motion in those areas rather than just your joints around your fingers and toes.

How does psoriatic arthritis cause back complications?

Once again, inflammation is to blame.

For example, some patients experience an overwhelming bout of inflammation in the lower back, which leads to a condition known as spondylitis, which targets your spine and vertebrae.

How can you manage back complications?

Handling back complications brought on by psoriatic arthritis is similar to dealing with other symptoms. You must treat the inflammation.

• There are plenty of medications to ease the stiffness and pain associated with the inflammation.
• Dietary changes may help you avoid triggers and flare-ups.
• When it comes to issues like spondylitis or stiffness in various areas of your back and neck, you can work with a physical therapist to come up with a safe routine to loosen up the stiffness and ease away the pain. This might also improve your flexibility, which can keep your range of motion intact.
• Maintaining good posture is vital as well so that your spine isn’t further strained by your slouching.

Of course, the back isn’t the only area that may be affected by this condition…

8. Foot Pain

Psoriatic arthritis doesn’t just affect the joints in the toes and fingers or cause inflammation in your back. Many patients additionally feel the effects of the condition throughout the entire foot.

Where does the discomfort occur and what does it feel like?

You may notice discomfort in your ankles, heels, and the balls of your feet. Some patients with foot pain might even have a limp because walking becomes painful or difficult.

How does psoriatic arthritis cause foot discomfort?

Inflammation from this condition can cause enthesitis, which is when the area where your tendons line up to your bones becomes inflamed. This condition usually develops around the Achilles tendon or even at the bottoms of your feet.

How can you manage this symptom?

• You can always opt to use NSAIDs or other prescribed medications to treat the inflammatory issues in your feet.
• There may also be medication specifically for your psoriatic arthritis your doctor can prescribe to help manage any swelling and stiffness.
• Consider addressing the type of shoes you’re wearing. Sometimes with arthritis, you have to be pickier about your footwear. Having shoes with a wider toe box or even open-toed shoes can relieve your feet if your toes are swollen.
• Cushioned inserts can help with pain as well.
• Stretches, heat therapy, and cold therapy can also be beneficial.

Of course, with everything going on in the body, the following symptom may occur, too…

9. Fatigue

With all the other issues you’re experiencing—from pain to swelling—it’s no surprise you feel worn down at the end of the day.

What is fatigue?

Fatigue is a feeling of both physical and mental exhaustion. You may feel as though it’s impossible to go through your day, whether you’re working or not, without a nap.

Other than feeling sleepy, you may just feel lethargic and unable to function in your day-to-day tasks even if you’ve had rest. This lethargy, in turn, can lead to a lack of focus and motivation.

How does psoriatic arthritis cause fatigue?

Many autoimmune conditions cause fatigue, and psoriatic arthritis is no different. Specifically, the amount of stress your body is going through can wear you down over time. More so, inflammation itself is often a culprit of causing feelings of fatigue.

You may even have to check with your doctor to see if any medication you’re taking to treat your psoriatic arthritis has the unintended effect of sapping away your energy.

How can you manage it?

Due to fatigue not exactly being a lone symptom on its own, your focus should be on working on the root issue.

• If you’ve discovered certain medication is making your mind cloudy and keeping you exhausted, talk with your doctor about it. They may recommend changing the dose or switching it altogether.
• You can also address any stiffness you may have. There’s a chance that your stiff joints can make it hard to sleep, which leaves you feeling exhausted the rest of the day. So, try to manage better sleep habits as well as waking up to stretch out any tightened joints.

The next symptom of psoriatic arthritis? It’s a real nail-biter…

10. Nail Pitting

Nail pitting appears as tiny dents or depressions in the surface of the nails.

How does psoriatic arthritis cause nail pitting?

Yet again, the cause of this symptom leads us back to inflammation.

Psoriatic arthritis might cause inflammation in your nail matrix, which is where your nails begin growing. This inflammation results in little dents or depressions, known as nail pitting.

Unfortunately, this pitting makes the nails especially susceptible to infections, meaning that this symptom requires extra care and attention.

How can you manage nail pitting?

Nail pitting is unfortunately one of the more difficult psoriatic arthritis symptoms to manage. Why? It all has to do with location and timing. Specifically, since the pitting occurs while the nail grows, it’s difficult to get medication to the problem areas.

That being said, there are a few treatment options available for dealing with nail pitting.

• Some doctors opt to inject the likes of corticosteroids directly into your nail beds, but not everyone sees results from this method.
• If the symptom isn’t extreme, you may want to consider increasing your vitamin D3 intake.
• You may try cosmetically repairing the issue by filing the nails or polishing over them.
• In the most extreme cases of nail pitting, you can speak with your doctor about getting the nail removed surgically in order for the tissue to grow back completely fresh.

The final sign that you may have psoriatic arthritis? It might be the most unexpected one of all…

11. Eye Complications

Perhaps just as unexpected as nail pitting, those with psoriatic arthritis may experience complications in the eyes as well.

What specific complications can occur?

These complications include the likes of inflammation (uveitis or conjunctivitis), which leads to other irritations of the eyes, such as redness and itchiness. You may even notice your vision getting blurrier.

How does psoriatic arthritis cause eye complications?

Psoriatic arthritis unfortunately means flare-ups. And flare-ups affect the entire body, including your eyes. The area can become inflamed just like your joints, which leads to a host of other eye complications as a result.

How can you manage these complications?

The best course of managing eye complications from psoriatic arthritis? Seeing a doctor right away in order to determine exactly what the issue is. Beyond managing the rest of your psoriatic arthritis symptoms with anti-inflammatory medications, you may have to use specific treatments for your eye conditions.

For instance, conjunctivitis (pink eye) is a common issue that requires symptom relief. So, treatment includes using eye drops, applying both warm and cold compresses, and not wearing contacts.

In the case of issues like uveitis, you’ll undergo a heavier treatment routine since the condition can lead to blindness. For example, you may use corticosteroid eye drops in the beginning to treat it. Later, your doctor may also recommend the use of immunosuppressive medication as well.

What’s next?

What should someone who thinks they have psoriatic arthritis know above all else?…

Final Thoughts

Psoriatic arthritis can make it difficult to get through your day-to-day routine. Unfortunately, this disease has no cure and can only worsen over time without proper treatment.

That means the best way to prevent the disease from worsening over time is to seek professional help right away. To seek treatment, though, you first have to know that there’s a problem in the first place; that’s where knowing the symptoms of this condition comes in handy.

Management of this condition is possible.

This condition may not be curable, but it is manageable with the right treatment plan. The best way to craft a treatment plan? By talking to a doctor and occupational therapist.

13. Stress

Mental and emotional stress have a wide range of effects across the body. Stress is a feeling of intense tension that often feels like it can’t be adequately dealt with. Stress can have a strong impact on our health including Psoriatic Arthritis.

Why Stress Triggers a Flare-up

Intense and persistent stress taxes our bodies natural defenses. Psoriasis, the condition that causes psoriatic arthritis, is currently thought to be an immune system disorder. The immune system is one area of the body that is most interrupted by stress. It’s the wide ranging impacts of stress that makes it so impactful to our overall health. 

Stress doesn’t have to just be emotional, it can also be a physical condition… 

12. Physical Stress 

Physical stress can be anything from a work-related injury to everyday things like how we sit and the clothes we wear. Physical stress causes undue strain on the body and this can trigger a flare-up. 

Why Physical Stress Triggers a Flare-up

Physical stress aggravates the body. This repetitive contact and strain can irritate the joints which are impacted by psoriatic arthritis. Just like with mental stress, physical stress is incredibly specific to individuals and learning which things cause you stress is a great way to improve your health. 

Psoriatic arthritis is often complicated by other things going on in our bodies such as changes to our weight… 

11. Weight Gain

Psoriatic arthritis has been shown to be a more severe problem in people with other medical concerns centered around their weight. 

When the body is not at a healthy weight, the rest of our natural systems need to work overtime. This can contribute to psoriatic arthritis. 

Why Weight Gain Triggers a Flare-up

Individuals who are overweight can face more frequent and severe flare-ups. This is due to the added stress excess weight causes on the joints and the overall health concerns that come with being overweight. 

The physical condition of our bodies affects psoriatic arthritis flare-ups whether it is based on weight gain or injury… 

10. Injuries

Physical injuries can quickly turn into flare-ups. Psoriatic arthritis is very sensitive to trauma to the body. Everything from bruises and scrapes all the way to surgeries can contribute to worse psoriatic arthritis symptoms. 

Why Injuries Trigger a Flare-up

When the body is damaged, it is natural to see swelling, stiffness, and mobility problems as the body heals. These things, especially the swelling, can cause a psoriatic arthritis flare-up. The added strain on the joints aggravates this condition and leads to more frequent outbreaks. 

At the end of the day, it’s all about the strain being placed on your joints… 

9. Joint Strain

Straining your joints is something we go through everyday. On a scientific level, every motion puts some strain on your joints, but the trick is to understand your body and make sure you are not exceeding your stain limits. 

Why Joint Strain Triggers a Flare-up

Too much strain is very dangerous for our joints. Joints are sensitive locations on the body and overdoing it, whether from a repetitive movement or lifting too much weight, can cause a flare-up. 

Stopping joint strain from causing a flare-up is all about knowing your limits. This kind of self-knowledge also helps with your sleep… 

8. Lack of Sleep

Psoriasis is a condition that is easily affected by our overall health. When your sleep becomes interrupted or infrequent, it can often lead to worse outcomes for your psoriatic arthritis. 

Why a Lack of Sleep Triggers a Flare-up

A lack of sleep is linked to worse health outcomes overall. Our bodies need regular, reliable sleep in order to stay healthy. When your sleep becomes irregular and interrupted, your health can start to decline. This can also create secondary medical conditions, such as stress, that also trigger flare-ups. 

There are steps you can take to correct poor sleep habits. Another easy change to make that helps with psoriatic arthritis is quitting smoking… 

7. Smoking

Long gone are the days of doctors arguing about whether or not smoking is bad for our health. It’s widely recognized that smoking damages more than just the lungs. 

Why Smoking Triggers a Flare-up

Smoking contributes to poor health outcomes in a variety of ways. The primary health effects including damage to our lungs, poor oxygen intake, and other issues can trigger flare-ups. Smoking can also aggravate the immune system and contribute to flare-ups that way. 

All in all, smoking is pretty bad for our health. Just like with our diets, it’s all about being in control of what we bring into our bodies…

6. Alcohol

Like smoking, alcohol consumption is linked to psoriatic arthritis flare-ups. Alcohol can be fine in moderation, but consuming too much has a dramatic affect on our health. 

Why Alcohol Triggers a Flare-up 

Alcohol can trigger a psoriatic arthritis flare-up for a variety of reasons. When you consume too much alcohol, you can dehydrate the body which leads to flare-ups. Alcohol consumption also leads to problems which lower our overall quality of life and health. Just as with smoking, it’s several health problems all contributing to make their symptoms worse. 

Alcohol is part of many different diets around the world. Staying in control of what we eat and drink can go a long way to making psoriatic arthritis flare-ups more manageable… 

5. Dietary Problems

Our diets are central to our health. A diet that lacks sufficient nutritional value or a diet that is dominated by fast food and snacks is one that is primed for health problems. 

Why Dietary Problems Trigger a Flare-up

Psoriatic arthritis is directly linked in with our overall health. Because this condition is caused by an underlying case of psoriasis, it is triggered by many of the same things that affect psoriasis including our diets. Aiming for a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables can go a long way to helping with psoriatic arthritis. 

Psoriasis is commonly believed to be an auto-immune disorder which means that any strain on our immune system can cause a flare-up… 

4. Infection

Infections are a potential cause of psoriatic arthritis flare-ups. When the body is busy fighting off an infection, it often makes other medical conditions worse. 

Why Infection Triggers a Flare-up

Psoriatic arthritis is heavily related to our immune systems. During an infection, our immune systems go into overdrive. This means that immune system disorders can be greatly aggravated and this includes psoriatic arthritis flare-ups. 

As our bodies change with age, we can have greater trouble dealing with infections and become at a greater risk for psoriatic arthritis… 

3. Your Age

Psoriatic arthritis is linked to age. As we get older, this condition becomes more noticeable and might even flare up for the first time as we age. 

Why Your Age Can Trigger a Flare-up

Psoriatic arthritis typically doesn’t set in until a person has aged to between 30 and 50 years. Those are the ages when this condition becomes more noticeable. This is also linked to the development of psoriasis and the increased health problems our bodies face with age. 

Age-related health issues are something we are all going to have to face in time. Another universal is watching out for sunburn… 

2. Sunburn

Sunburn is caused by overexposure to the sun’s rays. The sun does more than just light the Earth, it also provides heat. This is due to solar rays being radioactive. 

Usually this radiation is harmless and only causes damage when overexposed or over a long period of time, but for people with psoriatic arthritis it can be a source of flare-ups. 

Why Sunburn Triggers a Flare-up

An overexposure to sunlight causes sunburn. This condition is caused by the sun’s UV rays damaging the outer layer of our skin. This can cause swelling, open wounds, and other injuries that aggravate psoriatic arthritis. Extreme sunburn, known as sun poisoning, is a serious condition on its own, but represents a considerable trigger for psoriatic arthritis flare-ups. 

Our exposure to the sun is strongly linked with another flare-up risk: climate… 

1. Climate

There is a lot to say about how our climate impacts our health. When the weather changes, our health can change with it. Psoriatic arthritis is particularly sensitive to a variety of climate conditions. 

Why Climate Triggers a Flare-up

We mentioned earlier how sunburn can trigger flare-ups, but regularly and safely catching some rays is thought to actually help this condition. This means that winter months can cause flare-ups. Dry climates can dehydrate the skin which can also trigger flare-ups. 

Individuals with psoriatic arthritis can take many steps to help ease their condition, but it all starts with knowing yourself… 

Final Thoughts 

This condition can be treated through a combination of help from your doctor and getting to know what causes your flare-ups. Your doctor can help you with treatment options such as steroids to help with flare-ups and surgeries for severe cases.

You can also do simple things at home that can make big changes. Keeping a journal that tracks your flare-ups can help give you a good idea of what causes them and what steps you can take to make them more manageable.