By Dr Emmanuel Dizon
Summertime is here, and with it all the flowers, more daylight and pleasant temperatures. While this can bring about many healthful activities put on hold during the winter and chilly spring months – such as gardening, walking, bicycling and just spending time outside – it can also trigger arthritic pain in the joints. This can be true for those with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, and those with other types of chronic joint pain.
Why does the warmer weather impact joint pain? Increases in temperature, humidity and barometric pressure can all impact arthritis or ongoing joint pain. So how can you enjoy all the fun summertime has to offer without these inflammatory issues interfering? It takes conscious decisions and some concessions but it is possible.
Why weather impacts arthritis
When the weather changes, particularly in the form of increases in temps and humidity, the fluid in the joints can also be impacted, producing inflammation. This can impact the tendons, ligaments and muscles in people with arthritis or those with chronic joint pain that is not attributed to arthritis. The sensory nerves in our joints respond to this inflammation, which is the pain you feel.
Over time, and as the weather stabilizes – whether it is consecutive cool or consecutive hot days – there can be a reduction in inflammation. But when the temps begin to rise or fall, inflammation can hit again as it responds to the change in temperature and/or humidity.
Another key instigator in joint pain is barometric pressure. Simplistically put, barometric pressure is the weight of the air. When the barometric pressure increases or decreases, studies show it can cause tissue already inflamed in the joints to further expand. This, of course, leads to more pain. We all know people who say they can predict a storm coming by the way their joints feel. This is likely due to a rise or drop in barometric pressure and how it impacts the inflammation in their joints.
It is important to point out that weather may indeed impact the severity of arthritis pain, but it is not considered to be a contributing factor to the actual development of arthritis.
Strategies to lessen the effects of weather on arthritis
When high temps or high humidity hit, you can either focus on enduring the impact of the weather on your arthritis or try some strategies to see how they feel and work with you. Here are some things to try when the weather starts to impact your mobility.
• Use your air conditioning. While we cannot control the weather outside, we can control our indoor environment. If you have air conditioning, use it during hot, humid days. For this to be effective, it is important to keep all windows closed. Even keeping one window open a crack to allow for some fresh air will allow the humidity to seep into your house and into your joints. In this case, it’s not so much about the heat/temperature in your house, but the amount of humidity. Along this same vein, when it is particularly hot and humid, limit your time outside. If you like to exercise outside, shoot for a morning or evening workout when the temps and humidity tend to be a bit easier to handle.
• Wear comfortable clothes. Keeping your body cool and comfortable is very important for your joints. Avoid wearing clothes that are restrictive or make it harder for you to move freely. Clothes made of cotton tend to allow body heat to leave, keeping you cooler. This means your joints will remain cooler as well.
• Drinks lots of fluids. Our joints need lubrication. We can help them by drinking fluids every day. Water is the best option, but decaffeinated iced tea or decaffeinated iced coffee are other good options. It’s also best to keep a few bottles of a sports drink such as Gatorade in the refrigerator in case you overdo it outside and need to replenish your electrolytes in a hurry. If you are the type of person who just doesn’t like drinking water or other non-caffeinated beverages, do your best. You can also supplement with juicy fruits such as watermelon, honeydew, grapes or strawberries; or with water-based veggies such as cucumbers, lettuce or tomatoes. Eating produce can supplement your water intake, but shouldn’t be used as your sole method of getting water into your system!
• Immersion therapy. Taking a dip in a cool pool is one of the best things you can do for sore joints in the summer heat. Not only does the water surround and help cool your joints, but the buoyancy of the water allows you to take almost all of the pressure off your joints. Swimming is the perfect exercise for those with arthritis, as you can swim laps for exercise, while allowing your joints a healing environment at the same time. Don’t have access to a pool? Use your tub as relief zone. Fill it with cool water and immerse yourself in it to give your joints a break.
• Stretch. Taking time every day to stretch can go a long way in alleviating joint pain. Not only does it allow for more fluid to reach your inflamed joints, but it can help stretch and build your muscles. Strong muscles can help take some of the pressure off your joints. Yoga and Pilates are great practices that can help you with your flexibility. If you are interested in either of these, it is best to check with your doctor first before embarking on this new exercise routine.
http://www.pressandguide.com/articles/2016/06/09/opinion/doc575994811d57f819146070.txt?viewmode=default
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