Are you one of the many whose joint hurt every time it's so cold outside? More often than not, aches, pains and stiffness are linked to changes in weather, especially winter's dropping temperatures.
Understanding the reason certain people are reacting to changes in weather, and others aren't remains unclear. However, there are various steps you can take to be more comfortable and lessen your risk when the weather becomes so cold.
Experts in this condition say, cold indeed causes both pain and stiffness. Why? According to Knowridge Science Report, there is no clear explanation for the reason dropping temperatures are affecting the joints.
The theory is associated with decline in barometric pressure, which results in expansion of tendons, muscles and the surrounding tissues.
And, due to the confined space within our body, such an occurrence can lead to pain, specifically in joints impacted by arthritis.
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Some People Become More Vulnerable than Others
Every human body is reacting to changing barometric pressure. However, those who have arthritis, and people who are suffering from chronic pain are more susceptible to that feeling of discomfort.
Furthermore, bad weather can impact the moods of many people. Say, you are sad or depressed, the prediction of pain or ache can be exaggerated or intensified.
You're probably wondering when to consult the doctor. If you are going through an extraordinary or never-before-felt symptoms with your joints, like persistent swelling, redness or difficulty putting pressure on, among others, or using the joint, it is a brilliant idea that you consult your doctor first.
If you are experiencing consistent or severe pain that's turning out to be disabling, medical experts recommend that you seek medical care instantaneously.
Joint Types That Can Be Impacted by Pain
Essentially, joints are made up of ligaments, tendons, synovial membrane and cartilage. They link two or more bones to each other, not to mention being lubricated to give way to smooth movements.
When the cartilage making up joints begins to break down or the joints start losing their lubrication, this is when problems with pain and stiffness are to arise.
There are six different types of moveable joints that can cause problems with joint pain. These include pivot joints that give way to rotational movements like the neck's joints; plane joints like that of the wrist; hinge joints like those of the fingers, knees and elbow among others; ellipsoid joints; saddle joints like that of the thumb; and ball-and-socket joints like hip and shoulder joints.
7 Ways to Reduce Risk of Pain
There are different ways to ease or lessen the risk of joint pain. These include the following:
- Dress in layers to keep your body warm during cold weather.
- Build up strength in muscle and bone by exercising. This lessens pressure on the joints, resulting to less prone or susceptibility to injury.
- Keep a healthy weight to lessen joint stress, especially the one on the knees.
- Prevent unnecessary strain on your joints when attending to daily activities.
- Put on heating pads, especially on painful areas of the body. Heat can help relax your muscles.
- Stand up, walk around and be active weather you're indoors or outdoors. Do the stretching before you go out to loosen your stiff joints. If you stay active in the winter, it will keep your muscles and joints in good shape.
- Get adequate amount of night's sleep, consume a healthy diet and maintain a positive perception in life.
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