This archive report was first published on 4 July 2020.
Arthritis and the Cold Season ¶
Published on July 4, 2020
Dr. Fredrick Otieno, an assistant professor and consultant physician and rheumatologist at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, explains that many patients with rheumatic diseases experience increasing pain and stiffness during cold seasons.
According to Dr. Otieno, the precise mechanism for this observation is not clearly understood, but it is thought that changes in weather can cause expansion and contraction of tendons, muscles, bones, and scar tissues, resulting in pain in the tissues affected by arthritis.
Low temperatures may also increase the thickness of joint fluids, making them stiffer and more sensitive to pain during movement.
Dr. Otieno notes that arthritis is a common manifestation of most rheumatic diseases and is usually a result of inflammation. Typical presentation includes joint pains, joint stiffness, especially in the morning and after prolonged rest, joint swelling, warmth, and redness, and difficulty using the joint normally.
While treatments cannot cure autoimmune diseases, they can control the overactive immune response and bring down inflammation or reduce pain and inflammation. Dr. Otieno recommends that patients with rheumatic diseases be on effective treatment that ensures adequate disease control and suppression of inflammation at all times.
Additionally, Dr. Otieno advises patients to keep warm by dressing warmly, avoiding contact with cold water, taking a warm shower, using hand gloves, warm bedding, and eating warm foods and beverages to reduce some of the effects seen when there is a drop in ambient temperature.
Exercise is also crucial for patients living with arthritis, as it can ease pain, increase strength and flexibility, and boost energy. Dr. Otieno emphasizes that patients should prioritize exercise, even during cold weather, as it can ease the pain experience.
