Weather doesn't affect fibromyalgia
A drop in temperatures, a burst of rain and suddenly your body is aching. Patients with fibromyalgia frequently complain of worsening symptoms with changes in weather. But to what extent does weather predict worsening symptoms? Not much, according to the results of a new study.
Researchers from the Netherlands conducted a study that included 333 women with fibromyalgia. Every day for a month, women logged their symptoms, activity levels, sleep quality, and whether they felt depressed. Researchers then analyzed this data with meteorological data from the same time period. While weather did affect some patients in varying degrees, for most patients, the weather did not significantly alter their symptoms. Some people were more susceptible to weather changes but it's still unclear why.
Though patients can't control the weather, they can control how they respond to pain by using exercise, chiropractic, and psychological therapies to manage their symptoms.
Reference
Bossema E, et al."The influence of weather on daily pain and fatigue in female patients with fibromyalgia". EULAR 2012; Abstract OP69.
