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Fibromyalgia and Climate

If you ask a fibromyalgia sufferer if weather can trigger painful episodes some will give you a resounding yes. There have also been studies performed in 1981 and 2002 that may suggest that climate can in fact affect this condition.

Overview

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread fatigue and pain in patients. Individuals with this condition can also experience headaches, depression and muscle pain.

It is said that fibromyalgia is a debilitating autoimmune disease where pain nerves misfire and the body interprets every sensation as pain. The pain felt is described as deep muscular aching, throbbing, shooting, stabbing and even a burning sensation.

Effects of Climate

Climate can be the friend or foe to a fibromyalgia patient. It could make all the difference in having a good day or a painful day.

The sensitivity felt from patients is attributed to humidity, temperature, precipitation and even barometric pressure. Humidity is said to bring on pain and suffering for a patient. The moisture in the air causes muscle pain. Living in a place with dryer air is better for a fibromyalgia patient.

Temperature that is cold will aggravate symptoms and pain of this disorder. It is best to live in an area that tends to stay warm throughout the year. Also, a patient should get accustomed to dressing in layers to stay warm when needed and peel off layer if it gets too hot.

Precipitations is described as rain, hail, sleet and snow. This type of climate is said to also worsen the muscle pain. It is even worse if the climate is both cold and damp.

Barometric pressure can affect some individuals with this disease and not the actual climate. Patients will feel muscle pain before it rains or snows.

Living in a city where weather changes at the drop of a hat can be disastrous for fibromyalgia patients. Imagine a sunny start to the day that could end in rain. That immediately says patients will most likely have a great first half of the day with pain in the evening.

 

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