Does weather affect arthritis? This article addresses that topic.
Patients with arthritis often claim that their symptoms are affected by the weather. While most academic rheumatologists discount this phenomenon citing numerous studies, I have a different opinion. And that opinion has been supported by research and experience.
One study from Argentina looked at a group of 183 people; 151 with arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia) and 32 people without arthritis. Participants were asked to keep a journal for a year recording factors such as barometric pressure, relative humidity, and temperature along with symptoms on a daily basis. Patients with all three types of arthritis experienced more pain on days when the temperature was low while people in the control group were unaffected by weather changes. One point the researchers made was that the amount of pain was not significant enough to predict weather changes.
A conflicting study out of Florida reported a group of patients with osteoarthritis. One hundred and fifty-four patients were followed for two years with specific cataloging of daily temperatures, barometric pressures, and precipitation along with symptoms. A slight association of hand pain with rising barometric pressure was found. However, no other significant associations were demonstrated.
Other anecdotal studies have reported that people who live in warmer, drier climates have fewer symptoms than people who live in colder damper climates. An important point: the course of disease is not affected.
So what is to be made of this? I know my patients are very good at predicting imminent weather fronts. In fact, I’ll believe them ahead of TV weather people any time. Also, it is apparent to me after twenty-five years of practice (I’m writing this in 2006) that cold damp weather aggravates symptoms.
One old study that seems to make sense was one done by Joseph Hollander at the University of Pennsylvania several years ago. He was able to demonstrate through use of a barometric pressure chamber, that changes in barometric pressure do affect a patient’s threshold for feeling arthritis related symptoms. Theorists have suggested that reduction in barometric pressure such as what occurs in cold rainy weather causes expansion of the joint capsule which stretches pain fibers located in the joint leading to pain.
Another possibility is that pain thresholds drop with cold weather. It is also apparent that cloudy damp days affect mood. I’ve noticed this especially in patients with fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. Cold weather is also a deterrent to people going outside and getting the needed exercise that helps reduce arthritis pain.
My own pet theory is that osteoarthritis symptoms are affected by weather changes. Many people with inflammatory forms of arthritis also have osteoarthritis so that symptom flares with weather probably reflect the effect on osteoarthritis.
Weather probably affects inflammatory forms of arthritis less. Warm sunny weather is not a guarantee of improvement in arthritis symptoms. I have numerous rheumatology colleagues who practice in Florida and Arizona and they are very very busy!
So what advice can I give?
If you are absolutely positive that a warm climate is making your arthritis better and you’d like to move, make sure you spend some time living in the warm area before you actually make the switch. Also realize that when you do make the switch you will be leaving many important components of your support team such as friends, relatives, and physicians behind. This is an important factor to consider.
If you live in a cold area, that shouldn’t deter you from living a healthy vigorous lifestyle. Regular exercise can be done in doors as well as it can be done outdoors.
