Posted by TENA/MERMIE on 7/29/2007, 12:36 am In fact, many fibromyalgia sufferers claim that their symptoms vary according temperature changes, changes in air pressure, and changes in precipitation in their part of their world. Most fibromyalgia sufferers claim that they experience changes in: Who is Affected by Weather Changes? In this particular study, 90% of patients claimed that weather was one of the And fibromyalgia sufferers aren't the only ones to experience weather-related You may also find that the weather exacerbates your symptoms if you have: What Weather Factors Affect Fibromyalgia Sufferers? There are five major weather factors that appear to affect fibromyalgia Barometric Pressure: Barometric pressure is a measurement of the weight that is On beautiful sunny days, barometric pressure tends to be quite high, but during Fibromyalgia sufferers often find that these changes in barometric pressure can Humidity: Absolute humidity is a measurement of the amount of water vapor Precipitation: Precipitation is the term used to refer to any type of water that Precipitation is often accompanied by a change in barometric pressure, and Wind: Whether it's a light wind or a gale-force wind, wind generally causes a This means that wind can trigger fatigue, headaches, and muscle aches in Weather and Fibromyalgia: The Studies Numerous studies have been conducted in order to evaluate whether or not In 2002, a study was conducted in Cordoba, Argentina, where there are four The study involved fibromyalgia sufferers and a healthy control group and aimed Participants were asked to rate their pain symptoms on a scale from one to ten, After 12 months, these symptoms were correlated to weather patterns for the Researchers found that pain symptoms of the participants with fibromyalgia Specifically, pain increased as temperatures fell and atmospheric pressure The healthy control group did not show any correlation between pain and weather Another study performed in Norway found a similar relationship between Fibromyalgia symptoms appeared to get worse during the months of December and This suggests a direct relationship between colder temperatures and lower Why Does Weather Affect Fibromyalgia Symptoms? Change in Circadian Rhythm: Your body operates using an internal clock known as Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines: There does appear to be a relationship between low Dealing with the Weather: Managing Your Fibromyalgia Symptoms Dress in Layers: Prepare for those chilly days by dressing in two or three Avoid Cold Temperatures: Try to keep your air conditioning off in your house Bring the Sunshine Inside: If you are finding that you are particularly fatigued
How Does the Weather Affect Fibromyalgia Symptoms?
Many fibromyalgia patients claim that changes in the weather directly affect
many of their symptoms.
to
fatigue
sleep patterns
headaches
muscle pain
the number of symptom flare ups
According to a study performed in 1981, a large percentage of fibromyalgia
sufferers may actually be sensitive to changes in the weather.
most important influences on their fibromyalgia symptoms.
symptoms.
rheumatoid arthritis
multiple sclerosis
osteoarthritis
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.
exerted by the air all around us.
a storm or similar weather front, barometric pressure drops suddenly.
trigger muscle aches and pains.
present in each unit of air.
When absolute humidity is low, fibromyalgia sufferers often report headaches,
stiffness, and flares in widespread pain.
falls to the ground from the sky, including rain, sleet, snow, or hail.
therefore may exacerbate your symptoms of pain and fatigue.
decrease in barometric pressure.
fibromyalgia sufferers.
fibromyalgia symptoms do appear to be influenced by changes in the weather. Most
of these studies have had surprising results.
distinct seasons every year.
to find out whether pain symptoms could be linked to specific weather changes.
every day for 12 months.
entire year.
correlated directly to weather changes.
increased.
patterns.
fibromyalgia symptoms and the weather.
January, but began to improve during April and May.
barometric pressures and a rise in fibromyalgia symptoms.
Unfortunately, researchers do not yet know why weather appears to affect
fibromyalgia symptoms so much. However, there are a few possible explanations:
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.
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.
temperature levels and an increase in the number of pro-inflammatory cytokines
in the body. These cytokines appear to be related to pain intensity.
If you find that your symptoms are influenced by weather changes, here are a few
tips to help keep you more comfortable:
layers. This will keep your body warm and allow you to shed excess clothing
should you become hot.
during the summer, 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 keep
your extremities warm and prevent aches and pains.
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.wtresearchteam!M!
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