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Cold
Weather Stiffens Joints
If you think the cold
weather brings lots of aches and pains with it, you're probably
not imagining things.
Many osteoarthritis sufferers report
an increase in stiffness and pain when Jack Frost pays a visit.
Research has been done on the phenomenon,
but it has yielded few definitive conclusions. However, people
report more aches and pains as the thermometer drops. Barometric
pressure also seems to take its toll on arthritic joints, and
there's anecdotal evidence that women suffer more in the winter
months.
The good news is this discomfort
is probably temporary and won't affect the long-term outlook for
your health, says Britain's Arthritis Research Council.
Experts suggest dressing warmly
and layering your clothes so you can adapt to temperature changes.
And keep in mind these tips for short-term relief, which can work
regardless of the weather.
- Try a pain reliever with acetaminophen
such as Tylenol, suggests the National Institute of Arthritis
and Musculosketal and Skin Diseases.
- Maintain a healthy diet.
- Sleep eight to 10 hours every
night.
- Stick to an exercise routine.
Be sure to include range-of-motion exercises (such as dance)
to increase flexibility; strengthening exercises (such as weight
training) to increase muscle strength; and aerobic or endurance
exercises (try bicycle riding) to control weight and improve
overall function. Aerobic exercise may also reduce inflammation
of the joints.
- Ask your doctor or physical therapist
about using heat or cold to stem arthritis pain. Depending on
what kind of arthritis you have, moist heat (try a bath or shower)
or dry heat (try a heating pad) can reduce pain. A cold pack
or even a bag of frozen vegetables when applied to the joint
for about 15 minutes may also relieve pain.
More information
Find out more about stiff joints
in the winter from the Arthritis
Foundation.
Reference
Source 101
For more information on how to prevent other diseases, use
PreventDisease.com's "Quick
Prevention Resources".
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