How Does The Weather Affect Arthritis Pain?
If
you asked arthritis suffers whether they believed that changes in the
weather can cause flare-ups of their disease, many of them would
agree that it does. Most arthritis suffers have suggested that they
experience more arthritis pain on cold, rainy days and less arthritis
pain on warm, dry days. Medical research, however, has yet to
establish a relationship between arthritis severity and the weather.
Dampness
Many
suffers of arthritis have reported that dampness can increase their
symptoms and discomfort. This would seem unlikely. Firstly, the
joints themselves are unlikely to be effected by dampness when they
are resistant to water. Arthritis patients do not experience
dramatic changes in their symptoms when immersed in water (such as
during baths or swimming) so why would wet or damp whether be able to
penetrate them? Secondly, wet weather could also be associated with
other climatic conditions, for instance decreases in barometric
pressures. Again, this seems unlikely given that much greater
pressure swings are tolerated, for instance during flying.
Humidity
Arthritis
suffers also believe that humidity can affect their symptoms.
Although changes in
humidity can enter the body through breathing it still seems unlikely
that humidity can increase arthritis symptoms. If you were given
humidified air to breathe by way of a humidifier this would appear to
have little effect on arthritis conditions.
Cold
A
lot of people would state that when the weather is cold their joints
can feel stiffer. This is not, however, limited to arthritis suffers
and people that may have experienced broken bones previously can
sometimes report that those joints may ache when the cold weather
sets in. There is, however, nothing to suggest that cold weather can
cause the stiffness of the muscles or the joints themselves.
What
causes the change in symptoms?
Although
there is some evidence that people living in warmer, drier climates
experience fewer episodes of arthritis pain, climate does not affect
the course of the disease. At most, it may affect symptoms of
arthritis pain.
There is a theory, however, that a drop in air pressure (which often accompanies cold, rainy weather) allows tissues in the body to expand to fill the space, meaning that already inflamed tissue can swell even more and cause increased arthritis pain. Other possibilities are that are pain thresholds drop in colder weather; cold, rainy days affect our mood; and during colder weather people are less likely to be outside and get the exercise that normally helps keep arthritis pain in check. Could it be that it is therefore that the change in weather has more of a psychological change on our bodies rather than a physical effect?
There is a theory, however, that a drop in air pressure (which often accompanies cold, rainy weather) allows tissues in the body to expand to fill the space, meaning that already inflamed tissue can swell even more and cause increased arthritis pain. Other possibilities are that are pain thresholds drop in colder weather; cold, rainy days affect our mood; and during colder weather people are less likely to be outside and get the exercise that normally helps keep arthritis pain in check. Could it be that it is therefore that the change in weather has more of a psychological change on our bodies rather than a physical effect?
It's important to stress that
doctors and researchers do not believe that weather actually makes
arthritis or any of these diseases worse. Instead, the idea is that
weather can affect your symptoms. But why would changes in the
weather cause pain? No one is entirely sure. The possibility
therefore remains that a small association does exist between changes
in the weather and flares in arthritis pain.
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