Your Rheumatoid Arthritis When the Season Changes
You can't change the weather, but if your rheumatoid arthritis acts up when it's cold and rainy, there's a lot you can do ease stiffness and pain.
Pittsburgh resident Ashley Boynes-Shuck knows the issue firsthand. The 32-year-old author has RA, and when the weather shifts gears, it tends to flare up.
"The seasons changing often presents a problem for me," says Boynes-Shuck, who has written two memoirs about living with long-term illness. It's especially hard when autumn turns into winter and when winter makes way for spring.
Experts aren't quite sure why weather has an impact. Research suggests autumn may be the sweet spot for RA, while winter and spring are the most challenging.
"Small studies have been done, but there's no real conclusive evidence supporting the reason for it," says Magdalena Cadet, MD, attending rheumatologist and assistant professor at New York University School of Medicine.
No matter the cause, take some easy steps to keep your RA in check when the weather isn't on your side.
Stay Warm
Try to keep yourself nice and toasty, especially when it's cold and damp outside. Wear extra layers. Stash a blanket in every room of your home. Power up a space heater. If your place is drafty or cool, Cadet says, look for home improvements that seal up drafts.
Let warm water work its magic. "Take a warm shower or a 20-minute soak in the tub," Cadet says. It's good for your blood flow and massages your joints.
Lotions or essential oils also do the trick. Warm them up in your hands first. Then use them to massage your joints.
from WebMD Health http://ift.tt/20TkRCN
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