Health SEASONAL CHANGES Do you find your symptoms change depending on the weather? We find out how the seasons can affect you Words: Georgina Maric H igh humidity, low pressure and strong winds are things you might hear the weather forecaster talking about, but did you know they can also affect your pain levels? According to a University of Manchester study Cloudy with a Chance of Pain all three are associated with an increase in pain. It also found that high pressure and low humidity, leading to dry weather and weak winds, led to a reduction in pain in a large proportion of the 10,000 participants. The results should give comfort to those who have claimed that the weather affects their pain, but have been dismissed, said Professor Will Dixon, who led the study. If you find your pain is worse or better with certain weather types, heres some advice about what you can do about it. Cold weather in barometric pressure, says Vinicius Domingues, MD, a rheumatologist in Florida, causing joints to expand, which may result in pain. Lower temperatures may also increase the thickness of the synovial fluid that acts as the joints shock absorber, which makes joints stiffer and more sensitive to pain. Participants reported more pain on days when the air was damper Cold affects those living with arthritis as it can often lead to increased pain in the joints. This could be down to a fall Dr Hana Patel is a GP specialist in mental health and a mindset coach, and works as a GP expert witness. www.topdoctors.co.uk/doctor/hana-patel What can ease these symptoms? Heat therapy can be effective, says Dr Hana Patel, a south-east London GP, as heat causes our blood vessels to expand. This may improve circulation to painful areas, reducing the symptoms. This could be in the form of a hot bath, heat pack, warm shower, sauna or steam room. Also, swimming may improve your range of movement. Warm weather Hot weather can cause fluid retention, which can lead to joint stiffness, says Dr Carol Cooper, a GP with an interest in rheumatology. Many people say their joint stiffness gets worse in very hot weather. What can ease these symptoms? Keeping cool, staying in the shade and 10 10 Inspire Spring 23 pp10-11 Seasonal changes.indd 10 15/02/2023 09:20