How weather really does affect our aches and pains
PEOPLE who say their aches and pains get worse depending on the weather now have scientific backing for their claims.
A study found those with long-term pain conditions were a fifth more likely to feel worse than usual on humid and windy days with low atmospheric pressure.
Scientists followed 13,000 Britons who suffer with arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraine or neuropathic pain. Participants recorded daily symptoms using a smartphone app that
Pain researcher Will Dixon included a GPS locator to link them to local weather conditions.
Sufferers were more likely to be in pain on days with high levels of water vapour in the atmosphere, whereas dry weather offered the least painful conditions.
The University of Manchester study titled Cloudy With A Chance Of Pain identified high humidity as a key factor. But low pressure and high wind speeds were also linked to more painful days.
Temperature and rainfall not significant factors.
Manchester professor Will Dixon said it has always been widely thought that weather was linked to health.
He said: “Weather has been thought to affect symptoms in patients with arthritis.
“Around three-quarters of people living with arthritis believe their pain is affected by the weather.
“Our analysis showed on damp and windy days with low pressure the chances of experiencing more pain, compared to an average day, was around 20 per cent.
“Given we can forecast the weather, it may be possible to develop a pain forecast.
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“This would allow people who suffer from chronic pain to plan their activities, completing harder tasks on days predicted to have lower levels of pain.
“It could also provide information to scientists on the mechanisms of pain, ultimately opening the door to new treatments.”
Study participant Janet Norris, 80, said her joint pain is worse in hot, humid weather.
She said: “I got involved in the study as I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn’t imagining my symptoms.
“But although pain is my environment, I am able to control it to some extent and therefore feel more in control of my arthritis.”
Dr Stephen Simpson, of charity Versus Arthritis which funded the study, said: “Supporting effective ways of self-managing pain can make all the difference for people with arthritis.
“This research will help us understand the bigger picture of the complexity of pain caused by arthritis and how people with the condition can take control of it.”