As the weather transitions from warm to chilly to downright cold, you may notice that you feel a bit achier — and medical evidence suggests it’s more than just a feeling of the winter blues.
It’s a common notion that the winter blues are more than just a feeling. Numerous people report feeling body aches and joint pain flare-up, especially those who suffer from arthritis as the colder weather approaches, according to Sarah Lee, M.D., an emergency medicine physician at the University of Maryland Medical Center. While research supports that weather might influence chronic musculoskeletal pain, the evidence backing its impact is still inconclusive. This is due to the difficulty in measuring the severity and many variables that exist.
There is a theory that when the barometric pressure drops in a cold winter, our tendons and muscles may expand in our confined joint spaces, which may lead to a flare-up of joint pain. That’s why it’s crucial to comprehend what actually causes aches and pains so you can better understand how to lessen them.
Ryan A. Harrell, D.O., an orthopedic adult reconstruction surgeon, reported that cold and rainy weather are commonly associated with stiff and achy joints. He offered potential theories as to why cold weather may affect your joints and increase your pain. Synovial fluid thickening, constriction of blood vessels, decreased barometric pressure, increased nerve sensitivity, and higher humidity are identified as possible culprits. However, research is still being done to confirm these.
How to combat the winter aches and pains
In order to address these aches and pains, it’s generally recommended that people continue healthy habits, including getting good sleep and eating a healthy diet. Staying hydrated and engaged in regular exercise such as walking is also crucial. Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) may be helpful if aches and pains persist.
Emotional well-being has been linked to decreased pain, as has been shown after joint replacement surgery. And keeping warm may combat some of the aggravating factors that cold temperatures play on joint pain, so dressing in warm clothing, taking warm baths or showers, using heating pads, and increasing the heat at home might help alleviate some of your pain.
