Rheumatoid Arthritis and how its link to weather can be more complicated than you think
Do you notice an increase in joint pain in Humid, wet or cold conditions? How has this affected your quality of life? Are you taking the precautions necessary to avoid pain?
Here is what we know
Weather does play a role in RA pain according to some researchers
A study found Significant association between tender joint count and stiffness with increased Humidity in the winter. They also found these symptoms with Low temperature and Barometric pressure in the summer.
When barometric pressure( essentially the weight of the air) is low
,the fluid in the joints thicken causing stiffness.
No matter what season it is, high humidity, low temperature and barometric pressure will increase joint pain and stiffness.
While these factors are always an issue, they occur more often based on the current season.
Another study found Disease Activity Score (DAS) to be significantly lower in Sunny and less humid conditions.
Could this be due to mood change with weather since it is better conditions?
In fact, Some studies indicate that mood can play a large role in RA symptoms
A study found that Disease activity score and Beck Depression Score showed a correlation between weather and symptoms.
This could be due to seasonal depression and how bad weather is more likely to correlate to a negative mood and cause flare ups.
A study found 86% of patients experienced joint pain due to psychological stress and mood.
Patients that reported being stressed were more likely to have increased Disease activity score.
People could be having a “bad day” and this could lead to flare ups, it just so happens that mood is more likely to be worse in unpleasant weather conditions.
Getting sun and exercise could decrease disease activity score according to some studies
A study found that Vitamin D deficiency was correlated to high disease activity score. Across the groups studied, As the average Vitamin D levels went down, so did the DAS.
This shows that people that got more sun or went outside in nicer weather are associated with having less joint pain and stiffness.
How can we take action?
For patients
Wear warm clothes in colder weather.
Get outside and get as much sun as possible
During long periods of bad weather, don't forget to exercise
Try to monitor mood and maintain a positive mindset
For Care Providers
Educate patients on all RA flare up triggers
Recommend appropriate therapist when necessary
Give lifestyle recommendations
We have more work to do
While it is very clear that weather has an impact on RA, there is still simply not enough evidence to prove a causational relationship. The studies that do show certain weather having a direct negative effect on RA are contradicted by studies suggesting otherwise. The issue is that it is difficult to conduct a study where all factors such as meteorological, psychological, and physical data are accurate and in check to confirm a correlation.
However for now we can say that you are more likely to have increased RA symptoms in weather conditions such as rain, cold temperature, high humidity, and low barometric pressure. Lifestyle is also a major factor and if a person refrains from exercise, getting sun , or cannot maintain low anxiety or stress levels they are also at higher risk for increased pain.
Here are some additional resources
Does weather affect Arthritis?
About the author
Nicolas Abbott is a Senior at Westfield State University majoring in Sports medicine in the movement science department. Nicolas is planning on going to graduate school in the spring to pursue a career in Physical Therapy. He can be reached at Nicolas.abbott55@gmail.com
References
Azzouzi, H., & Ichchou, L. (2020). Seasonal and weather effects on rheumatoid arthritis: Myth or reality? Pain Research and Management, 2020, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/5763080
Savage, E. M., McCormick, D., McDonald, S., Moore, O., Stevenson, M., & Cairns, A. P. (2014). Does rheumatoid arthritis disease activity correlate with weather conditions? Rheumatology International, 35(5), 887–890. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-014-3161-5
Abasolo, L., Tobías, A., Leon, L., Carmona, L., Fernandez-Rueda, J. L., Rodriguez, A. B., Fernandez-Gutierrez, B., & Jover, J. A. (2013). Weather conditions may worsen symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis patients: The possible effect of temperature. Reumatología Clínica, 9(4), 226–228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reuma.2012.09.006
Azzeh, F. S., & Kensara, O. A. (2015). Vitamin D is a good marker for disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis disease. Disease Markers, 2015, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/260725
Smedslund, G., & Hagen, K. B. (2011). Does rain really cause pain? A systematic review of the associations between weather factors and severity of pain in people with rheumatoid arthritis. European Journal of Pain, 15(1), 5–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpain.2010.05.003
Çay, H. F., Sezer, I., Firat, M. Z., & Kaçar, C. (2010). Which is the dominant factor for perception of rheumatic pain: Meteorology or psychology? Rheumatology International, 31(3), 377–385. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-009-1279-7
Yilmaz, V., Umay, E., Gundogdu, I., Ozgur Karaahmet, Z., & Ozturk, A. E. (2017). Rheumatoid arthritis: Are psychological factors effective in disease flare? European Journal of Rheumatology, 4(2), 127–132. https://doi.org/10.5152/eurjrheum.2017.16100
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