Is Arthritis Pain Affected by the Weather?

What role does the weather play for people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis? It is a question that has been asked for centuries, with many people swearing that the pain increases in cold, rainy weather and is more bearable in warmer conditions. But although there is much anecdotal evidence that warmer weather eases arthritis pain and colder weather increases it, medical research does not fully support all of these theories. However, it does support some of them, abet under very controlled conditions.

One of the most famous studies on the effects of the weather and arthritis pain was conducted nearly 50 years ago in Philadelphia. Some people who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis were isolated in a sealed diving chamber usually used to treat scuba divers with the bends. The atmospheric conditions inside the chamber were adjusted to different degrees of temperature, barometric pressure and humidity. The effects on the group inside were then observed. What the researchers found was that for many people in the chamber, joint swelling and stiffness did increase when barometric pressure dropped and humidity increased.

This provided a strong correlation between stories passed down through the centuries from people suffering from arthritis, who believed that they could predict when a storm was coming because their joints became stiffer. So does this apply to the real world too? To some degree, yes, although atmospheric conditions - including temperature, humidity readings, barometric pressure and outside precipitation - have many variables and can affect people in different ways.

For example, a drop in air pressure accompanying cold, rainy weather enables tissue in the body to expand to fill the space. This means that inflamed tissue can swell even more and cause increased discomfort. Pain thresholds also drop in colder weather. Cold, rainy days affects people's moods and they are often very aware of their arthritis pain. So does this possible link between cold, rainy weather and pain mean that people with arthritis should you should move to a dry, warm climate? Not necessarily, simply because your body will eventually adjust to the new environment and your arthritis pain will return.

There is, however, one way of controlling your arthritis pain wherever climate you live in. This is through daily does of fish oil supplements rich in omega 3 essential fatty acids. They are especially effective in fighting inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis and can offer some of the most effective relief from joint pain. But be sure to only take pharmaceutical grade fish oil has this had been specially distilled to provide the purest nutrients to help fight joint pain and inflammation.