How Does Weather Affect Fibromyalgia Sufferers?

 

 

I love it as the cooler weather creeps in and Fall is in the air. I can smell the woodsy burning fireplaces and campfires. The crunch of leaves as they drift from the trees. The nights cuddled under thick blankets as the temperature drops. It’s my favorite time of the year.

But I’m discovering that my body is forming a mutinous revolt. The aches are deeper. The stiffness is stiffer. My fingers form into vulture claws. My feet do likewise. The headaches are more persistent. The fatigue drains away my life energy. The depression darkens. The discouragement becomes a whispering voice in my ear. My mind and heart rejoices at the changing season, but my body says hell no!

Fibromyalgia can be difficult even in the best weather. After all, not only does it cause relentless fatigue and muscle pain, but it is also associated with a dozen (or more) other symptoms, including depression, dizziness, and nausea. If you have been suffering with fibromyalgia for a while now, you may have noticed that your symptoms tend to get worse during certain seasons and weather changes. A large percentage of FMers (my short hand term for fibromyalgia sufferers) claim that weather directly affects their symptoms and pain levels. I know it does mine!

In fact, many FMers claim that their symptoms vary according to temperature changes, changes in air pressure, and changes in precipitation. They experience changes in their:

• fatigue
• pain levels
• headaches
• muscle pain
• the number of symptom flare ups
• sleep disturbances
• and more!

According to a study performed in 1981, a large percentage of fibromyalgia sufferers may actually be sensitive to changes in the weather. In this particular study, 90% of patients claimed that weather was one of the most important influences on their fibromyalgia symptoms. And fibromyalgia sufferers aren’t the only ones to experience weather-related symptoms. You may also find that the weather exacerbates your symptoms if you have:

•  rheumatoid arthritis
•  multiple sclerosis
•  osteoarthritis

What weather factors affect fibromyalgia?

There are five major weather factors that appear to affect fibromyalgia symptoms. These include:

•  Temperature: Rapid changes in temperature can sometimes trigger a fibromyalgia flare or help to ease fibromyalgia pain. Cold weather tends to make fibromyalgia symptoms worse, while warmer weather tends to ease those troublesome symptoms.
• Barometric Pressure: Barometric pressure is a measurement of the weight that is exerted by the air all around us. On beautiful sunny days, barometric pressure tends to be quite high, but during a storm or similar weather front, barometric pressure drops suddenly. FMers often find that these changes in barometric pressure can trigger muscle aches and pains.
• Humidity: Absolute humidity is a measurement of the amount of water vapor present in each unit of air. When absolute humidity is low, FMers often report headaches, stiffness, and flares in widespread pain. High humidity can have the same affect.
• Precipitation: Precipitation is the term used to refer to any type of water that falls to the ground from the sky, including rain, sleet, snow, or hail. Precipitation is often accompanied by a change in barometric pressure, and therefore may exacerbate your symptoms of pain and fatigue.
• Wind: Whether it’s a light wind or a gale-force wind, wind generally causes a decrease in barometric pressure. This means that wind can trigger fatigue, headaches, and muscle aches in fibromyalgia sufferers.

Fibromyalgia studies about weather

Numerous studies have been conducted in order to evaluate whether or not fibromyalgia symptoms do appear to be influenced by changes in the weather. Most of these studies have had surprising results.

In 2002, a study was conducted in Cordoba, Argentina, where there are four distinct seasons every year. The study involved fibromyalgia sufferers and a healthy control group and aimed to find out whether pain symptoms could be linked to specific weather changes. Participants were asked to rate their pain symptoms on a scale from one to ten, every day for 12 months. After 12 months, these symptoms were correlated to weather patterns for the entire year. Researchers found that pain symptoms of the participants with fibromyalgia correlated directly to weather changes. Specifically, pain increased as temperatures fell and atmospheric pressure increased. The healthy control group did not show any correlation between pain and weather patterns.

Another study performed in Norway found a similar relationship between fibromyalgia symptoms and the weather. Fibromyalgia symptoms appeared to get worse during the months of December and January, but began to improve during April and May. This suggests a direct relationship between colder temperatures and lower barometric pressures and a rise in fibromyalgia symptoms.

Why does weather affect fibromyalgia symptoms?

Unfortunately, researchers aren’t very clear on this answer. They have conducted studies that show potential positive correlations, but nothing definitive, yet. However, there are a few possible explanations (and I’m sure many more to be discovered):

• Change in Sleep Cycle: Weather, particularly hot and cold temperatures, can sometimes affect the way in which you sleep. This could have a great affect on symptoms and flares if you are a fibromyalgia sufferer.
• Change in Circadian Rhythm: Your body operates using an internal clock known as the circadian rhythm. Changes in seasons and the amount of light that your body receives can throw off your circadian rhythm, causing you to feel fatigued and more achy then usual.
• Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines: There does appear to be a relationship between low temperature levels and an increase in the number of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the body. These cytokines appear to be related to pain intensity.

Dealing with the weather: Managing your fibromyalgia symptoms

If you find that your fibromyalgia is influenced by weather, here are a few tips to help keep you more comfortable.

• Dress in layers. Prepare for those chilly days by dressing in two to three thin layers. This will keep your body warm and allow you to shed extra clothing if you get hot. Perfect for these Fall days with cooler mornings and warmer afternoons and then cooler evenings.
• Avoid cold temperatures. I find that the cold really exacerbates my symptoms (but I also hate the heat and sweat like crazy if too warm – a crazy circle). Try to keep your air conditioning off in your house during the summer (not recommended if you have allergies), and keep your heat up during the winter months. If you have to go outside in the cold, wear gloves, proper boots, and a hat. This will help keep your extremities warm and prevent aches and pains.
• Bring the sunshine inside. If you are finding that you are particularly fatigued or depressed, try to increase the amount of light you have inside of your house. During the gray winter months, it is easy to become depressed and tired, which will only make your symptoms worse. Purchase some halogen bulbs or a special light box to help improve your mood.
• Use an electric blanket in bed. I use an electric blanket to warm my muscles up before I get out of bed in the morning. It helps ease the stiffness and aches and pains. Makes getting out of the bed a little easier, too!

Do you find weather affects your fibromyalgia symptoms? What kind of weather bothers you the most? What are your tips for dealing with it? I’d love to hear from you!

 

• Posted in: Weather
• Tagged: barometric pressure, changing weather, Conditions and Diseases, fatigue, Fibromyalgia, health, muscle aches, muscle pain, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Pain, Temperature, Weather