Wx Savvy | Climate

How Does Weather Affect Arthritis?

Many people with arthritis have complained of worsening arthritis flare-ups during damp weather, lower pressure and even in high humidity. However, there is no conclusive proof that the weather has an affect on arthritis. There may be coincidences when flare-ups occur during a storm, but there is no proof that the weather is the reason for the flare up in pain.

An article in Scientific American (1) written by Donald A. Redelmeier, a professor of medicine at the University of Toronto, suggests that the connection between weather and arthritis may be more of a psychological need to be able to explain and to predict unexplained and unpredictable things. He also points out how arthritis patients usually don't complain of flare-ups during pressure drops on airplanes, pressure falls during mountain driving or during a hot and humid shower.

Yet another article from the Indiana University Medical School (2) presents two conflicting studies. Although one study may lend credit to the theory of weather and arthritis being connected, many doctors and scientists consider those experiments flawed or inconclusive. Further, they say the affect of weather on mood may have a factor in determining such a subjective thing as pain.

The bottom line is that there is no evidence through science and medical experiments to prove a connection between changes in the weather and arthritis flare ups. That's not to say some people don't have increased pain during rain events. However, there's no way to determine if it is indeed the dampness or lower pressure that is causing the pain. The way I like to explain this to people is that although there's no proof, if you notice a trend between your pain and rain or your pain and drops in pressure, then who cares what causes it? After all, to you it is more likely important that you can predict your own flare-ups.

(1) http://www.sciam.com/

(2) http://www.soundmedicine.iu.edu/segment.php4?seg=10