Ever hear someone say, “There’s a storm coming because my arthritis is acting up.” Arthritis is the inflammation of the joints, which can include stiffness and joint pain. Believe it or not, for some people their arthritis can worsen during the warm summer months, especially when you go from the heat outside to the cold A/C inside. Arthritis is extremely uncomfortable and even though there’s no cure, there are ways to reduce inflammation and relieve pain and stiffness.
It’s not so much the hot weather that affects people with arthritis, as much as the humidity and cold. In fact, people living in warmer, drier climates experience fewer episodes of arthritis pain. A drop in air pressure can cause the tissues of your body to expand, causing already inflamed tissues to swell and cause increased arthritis pain. Plus going from the hot weather outside to an A/C controlled room can increase arthritis joint pain.
What Can You Do?
The first thing to do when you suspect you might have arthritis is to visit your doctor. There are approximately 100 different forms of arthritis, but the most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. There are a variety of medications used to control inflammation and pain. There are also things that you can do at home that can help reduce swelling and pain, such as:
- Heating pads and cold packs: These can be applied directly to the affected joints to ease the pain.
- Exercise: Regular stretching exercises can increase flexibility and strengthen your supporting muscles.
- Swimming: This is great when you have arthritis pain in your legs.
- Skip the A/C: stay away from the A/C unit and if you have to lower the temperature or use a fan to avoid the cool air to affect you.
- Magnesium: Taking a magnesium supplement can help relax muscles, ease pain and have stronger bones.
- Cook with olive oil: Make it a habit of making salads and meals with extra virgin olive oil, or use it directly and lubricate your joints. In fact, 1.5 tablespoons are the equivalent of a 200mg of ibuprofen.
- Soak in Epsom salts: Soaking your sore joints in a warm bath with Epsom salts can help relax muscles since it contains magnesium sulfate.
- Turmeric: This powerful yellow root is anti-inflammatory and it can be made into a tea with ginger and honey.
Living with arthritis doesn’t have to be painful and can be manageable, but you have to take the necessary precautions. Talk to your doctor to see what works best for you.