Re: Barometor

[Guest guest]

Hi Pat,

Below, I've reposted an article that explains exactly what's known about the effects of barometric and other weather changes, on conditions like JRA. I hope this helps : )

Aloha,

Georgina

Does anyone have information on the Barometric pressure and its affects on JRA? Someone said that if it goes up (or down) don't remember which, that it really affects the pain. Just curious if anyone knows about it. By the way, got up this morning and said it was the first time she got out of bed with no pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pat & (1 year Systemic)

Under the Weather? Blame the BarometerHolly C. VanScoy, Ph.D.http://www.drkoop.com/dyncon/article.asp?id=9120Chalk up another one for the old wives. Their age-old tale that certainrheumatoid conditions are weather-sensitive appears to be increasinglyaccepted. Granny and Grandpa aren't a bit surprised.Rheumatologists BelieveAccording to Joan Von Feldt, M.D., a rheumatologist at the University ofPennsylvania Health Center, there are few in her profession who stilldeny the influence such factors as humidity, barometric pressure andheat have on the pain and mobility limitations associated witharthritis."A half a century ago -- in the 1950s -- Dr. ph Hollander, aPhiladelphia-based physician who is considered one of early founders ofrheumatology, used a barometric pressure chamber to investigate suchclaims by his patients," Von Feldt explained. "These experiments verified what his arthritis patients had been tellinghim all along -- fluctuations in their arthritic symptoms were closelyassociated with movements in the barometric pressure." Though supportive of many arthritics' experiences, Hollander's findingswere not exactly new. As early as 400 B.C., Hippocrates, the "Father ofMedicine," speculated in On Airs, Waters, And Places that weather mightbe the cause of many human maladies, including conditions affecting thejoints.Change is KeyHelen Young, a retired registered nurse in Albuquerque, N.M., didn'tneed Hippocrates'speculation or Hollander's experiments to confirm thatthe joint pain of her rheumatoid arthritis in her ankles, hands and armshad become a reliable prognosticator of the local weather. "Invariably, I have a flare up of symptoms such as pain and stiffness 24hours before any new weather arrives," she said. "It's changes in theweather that my joints seem most sensitive." Young's adult son, who experienced an injury to his knee, has similarweather-connected joint reactions. "He tells me he knows when I'm inpain because he's hurting, too," she explained.In Young's case, her doctors have been generally supportive of herconviction that the arthritic disease process includes weather-relatedexacerbations. "The anti-inflammatory medications they've prescribeddon't always work well," she admitted, "but none of them have discountedthe fact that my arthritis acts up consistently every time the weathershifts." Not Just ArthritisSome medical professionals believe that arthritis isn't the only medicalcondition in which weather plays a role. Seeds, M.D., anorthopedic surgeon in Ashtabula, Ohio, said, "I can't ignore therelationship between weather and joint pain because my patientscontinually tell me the weather is affecting their achy joints. In fact,many of my patients with healed bone fractures also complain of achybones that they associate with fluctuations in the weather." Varying ExplanationsAlthough rheumatologists generally accept that weather sensitivity maybe present as part of an individual's clinical picture, there still isno definitive explanation for why such reactions occur.According to Esterson, a registered physical therapist atPhysiotherapy Associates in Vienna, Va., joint pain is activated bychanges from high pressure to low pressure. He suggested that thesepains are created by changes in the gravitational force caused by suchfluctuations. "The release of gravity results in swelling at amicroscopic level," he speculated.Seeds' perspective, in contrast, is more closely aligned withHollander's. "I have seen decreases in barometric pressure increase painin my degenerative arthritic patient population," he reported on his AllAbout Arthritis discussion of this topic. "Rapid decreases in barometricpressure seem to make it more difficult for these patients to cope withdaily activities." "On the flip side," he continued, "I have also seen increases inbarometric pressure cause increased pain in my patients with rheumatoidarthritis." Seeds' explanation for these effects is the influence ofbarometric pressure on cardiovascular functioning. "We know that a decrease in the barometric pressure decreases thetension in an arterial vessel, which allows the vessel to expand," hepointed out. "It is believed that this vascular expansion has somecontribution to the pain experienced in degenerative arthritis. AlongLake Erie, where winds can suddenly converge and bring on low-pressurechanges, the barometric pressure can decrease rapidly, and my patientswaste no time in letting me know."Accentuating the PositiveSeeds has found a way of incorporating the weather-arthritis flaresyndrome as part of a flexible treatment response. "I have my patientskeep an eye on the weather forecasts," he explained. When a change inweather is predicted, Seeds recommends that his patients prepare bytaking "a few extra strength Tylenol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatorymedications" that he's prescribed in advance."I believe this is helping my patients cope better with theirarthritis," he reported. "And now they are more involved in preventivehealth care, which is also a very positive step." Esterson pointed out that increasing the amount of exercise and movementcan also help people with osteoarthritis make it through weather changesthat heighten their joint pain and stiffness. "Mobility disperses stressover joints," he explained. "There's a natural tendency to want to moveabout less when your joints hurt, but moving about more is actually amuch better strategy for most individuals who have certain forms ofarthritis." Esterson said that people with rheumatoid arthritis often fare better ifthey rest during flare-ups of the disease, but remain as active as theycan at other times. Esterson also noted that the application of heat,along with taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Seedsprescribes, is often useful when the weather conditions result in acuteflares. "Neoprene supports are useful, too," he said, "but, of course,you can't pull on a wetsuit every time the weather changes." Rain or shine, don't depend on the weather or on these treatments,alone. Ask your doctor what's best for you.Date Published: Apr 9 2001 0:0:0

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I hope has many more pain free mornings.

Diane (, 2, pauci)