[{"id":7316,"date":"2026-09-02T05:20:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T05:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=7316"},"modified":"2026-08-18T15:23:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T15:23:57","slug":"health-tips-is-your-joint-pain-really-arthritis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/09\/02\/health-tips-is-your-joint-pain-really-arthritis\/","title":{"rendered":"Health tips: Is your joint pain really arthritis?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Health tips: What\u2019s behind your joint pain?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Joint pain, stiffness or swelling may make you think you have arthritis, but arthritis isn’t the only possible cause. Pain can come from the joint itself or from nearby bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments or nerves. Paying attention to when and where you hurt \u2014 and what your pain feels like \u2014 can provide important clues.Here are six things to consider:<\/td><\/tr>

Notice where it hurts.\u00a0<\/strong>Osteoarthritis often affects the hands and weight-bearing joints such as the hips, knees and feet. Pain just outside a joint and over a tendon may be tendinitis, while bursitis can cause aching or tenderness around a joint.

Consider when the pain occurs.<\/strong>\u00a0Morning stiffness that lasts for hours is more likely to occur with rheumatoid arthritis or another inflammatory condition. Osteoarthritis pain often occurs during or after using a joint, and stiffness after rest typically improves within about 30 minutes.

Think about how the pain feels.<\/strong>\u00a0Pain from tissue damage or inflammation is often sharp, aching and localized. Pain from affected or damaged nerves may feel burning, tingling, shooting or like an electric shock.

Pay attention if pain is widespread.<\/strong>\u00a0Fibromyalgia can cause widespread pain, fatigue and sleep problems. Unlike arthritis pain, fibromyalgia pain isn’t caused by swelling or damage to the joints.

Look beyond pain alone.\u00a0<\/strong>Other symptoms can help fill in the picture. Fatigue, weakness, fever, skin changes or even how pain affects your sleep and daily activities can provide clues about what’s causing it.

Know when it’s time to get help.\u00a0<\/strong>Contact your healthcare team for new or persistent pain lasting several days, severe or worsening joint pain, pain with fever or rash, numbness or pain that radiates from your neck or lower back, or pain following a joint injury.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Health tips: What\u2019s behind your joint pain? Joint pain, stiffness or swelling may make you think you have arthritis, but arthritis isn’t the only possible cause. Pain can come from the joint itself or from nearby bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments or nerves. Paying attention to when and where you hurt \u2014 and what your pain […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":640,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7316","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7316","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/640"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7316"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7316\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7320,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7316\/revisions\/7320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7316"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7316"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":7313,"date":"2026-09-01T05:17:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T05:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=7313"},"modified":"2026-08-18T15:19:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T15:19:44","slug":"why-breakfast-is-worth-making-time-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/09\/01\/why-breakfast-is-worth-making-time-for\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Breakfast Is Worth Making Time For"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A Little Breakfast Goes a Long Way<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the whirlwind of getting ready, answering texts, or beating traffic, it\u2019s easy to let breakfast slide. So easy, in fact, that nearly one-quarter of U.S. adults skip it entirely.
But skipping breakfast<\/a> can mean missing key nutrients that aren\u2019t always made up later in the day. A balanced meal after you wake up can support your energy, concentration, and mood while helping you feel satisfied throughout the morning.<\/td><\/tr>
With a few go-to options and a little preparation, breakfast can fit into even the busiest routine.
This week, find simple tips and easy breakfast ideas to help you start your day strong.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Mornings can be hectic. The alarm goes off, emails are already piling up, and if you\u2019re lucky, you manage to pour a cup of coffee before rushing out the door. In the whirlwind of getting ready, answering texts, or beating traffic, it\u2019s easy to let breakfast slide. So easy, in fact, that research shows<\/a> nearly one-quarter of U.S. adults skip breakfast entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But here\u2019s the thing: skipping that first meal may mean missing more than just food. One study<\/a> found that people who skip breakfast tend to fall short on several essential nutrients\u2014and they don\u2019t usually make up for them later in the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This week, learn how a balanced breakfast can provide the fuel your body needs to boost energy, sharpen focus, and support your overall well-being all day long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Role of Breakfast in a Healthy Diet<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Breakfast has been linked to a variety of short- and long-term health benefits<\/a>. Eating a balanced morning meal can help improve energy levels, concentration, and mood, while also supporting better appetite control throughout the day. Compared with people who skip breakfast, those who eat it regularly tend to have a lower risk of both obesity and type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers analyzed<\/a> the eating habits of more than 30,000 U.S. adults and compared the diets of those who ate breakfast with those who didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what they discovered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n