Temperature, Humidity and Atmospheric Pressure Make a Difference

Do you know someone—maybe even yourself—who doesn’t need a newspaper or an almanac or The Weather Channel to know when it’s going to rain…he, or she can tell by his/her aching joints. This old wives’ tale is a familiar one, and Eric L. Matteson, MD, MPH, chair of the Mayo Clinic’s division of rheumatology confirms that lots of Mayo Clinic patients have reported that joint pain tips them off when it is going to rain. What’s behind these reports?

A MILD ASSOCIATION

There hasn’t been much research examining the effect of weather on arthritis, but some Argentinean researchers have looked at 151 people with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia (a musculoskeletal pain condition), along with a control group of 32 healthy people. For one year in the warm, temperate climate of Cordoba City, participants used questionnaires to self-report their symptoms, which were compared with actual weather conditions, including records of temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure.

Researchers found that…

  • People with all three conditions experienced more pain in cooler weather.
  • The particular diagnosis made a difference. In addition to suffering more at low temperatures, people with osteoarthritis were more sensitive to high humidity… those with rheumatoid arthritis were affected by high humidity and high atmospheric pressure… and people with fibromyalgia also had more symptoms with high atmospheric pressure, but humidity did not show a correlation.
  • People in the control group did not show a correlation with any weather changes.

The reasons for these associations have yet to be pinned down, but some in the research field speculate that cold, wet weather has a negative impact on mood and perception, so pain might be experienced more intensely… poor weather may lead to less exercise and therefore more stiffness… and low atmospheric pressure may bring on swelling, inflammation and pain.

MOVING SOUTH: NOT ALWAYS THE ANSWER

Dr. Matteson agrees with the finding that low temperatures and high humidity in particular are frequently reported by patients as associated with increased arthritis symptoms. Yet most studies indicate a mild association at best, and fail to confirm that pain actually predicts weather or vice versa. He notes that many people happily retire to drier and sunnier climates, especially as an escape from harsh Northern winters, but in his opinion there are many other factors that contribute to feeling better where it’s warmer, such as being more relaxed and able to do things outside.

If you’re considering such a move, take into account not just weather but other important factors — such as familiarity and community. Leaving behind family and friends can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation, no matter how sunny, warm and dry your new home. Before making any drastic changes, be sure to spend time in a new location and “acclimate” yourself socially as well as physically. And if moving south doesn’t suit you in the long run, there are still plenty of things you can do to control arthritis aches and pains, even in Northern winters… like joining a gym with a heated pool where you can enjoy invigorating workouts in the company of friends.