How Weather Affects Autoimmune Conditions
How does weather affect autoimmune disease? It’s a question we’re seeing a lot lately, especially with the turning of the seasons.
Have you ever heard someone say they can tell when it’s going to rain because their bones hurt? It might seem like an old wives tale, but the weather does affect people in more ways than one. Warmer weather might kick up allergies, while colder weather brings on the cold and flu viruses.
Another facet of how weather influences our health has to do with autoimmune conditions. Approximately 50 million Americans have at least one autoimmune disease, and the majority of these people are women.
Before we get into how weather affects autoimmune symptoms, let’s refresh on how your immune system works, and how autoimmunity takes a toll on that system.
What are Autoimmune Diseases?
Your immune system is a complex network of cells, proteins, and organs designed to detect and attack foreign invaders. This intelligent system marks pathogens as they’re being destroyed. This creates a memory bank of sorts and helps in case you come in contact with them in the future.
Autoimmune diseases happen when your immune system begins attacking its own cells. Some of the most common autoimmune conditions are:
Skin diseases:
- Psoriasis
- Dermatomyositis
Joint and muscle diseases:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Sjögren’s syndrome
Digestive diseases:
- Celiac disease
- Chron’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis
Nervous system diseases:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Endocrine diseases:
- Addison’s disease
- Grave’s disease
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Other diseases:
- Pernicious anemia
- Type 1 diabetes
What causes autoimmune diseases? The exact cause is still being researched. Certain risk factors may play a role, such as:
- Toxic exposure (including microplastics)
- Obesity
- Being female
- Infections
- Chronic stress
- Medications
- Smoking
- Diet
- Family members with autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases are very difficult to diagnose. In fact, it can take between 5-10 years to get a proper diagnosis. That’s the beauty of functional medicine. We take the time to understand all aspects of your health, including your lifestyle, diet, sleep patterns, social health, and stress levels. We also use advanced diagnostics to get to the root cause of what’s going on with your health.
If you have an autoimmune disease, you may feel symptoms intensify or diminish depending on what the weather is doing. What’s the connection?
How Weather Affects Autoimmune Conditions
While each person has a different experience, many with autoimmune symptoms are affected by the change in weather. This can apply to both the onset of cold weather and the ushering in of warmer weather.
Depending on your condition, you may feel more fatigued, and sore, and have a lowered ability to fight off secondary illness. Let’s address a few aspects of the weather that impact your autoimmune condition.
Temperature
Spring and Fall are transitioning seasons where you begin to notice more flare-ups. By the time Summer or Winter rolls around, you might feel these flare-ups more often.
During colder weather, those with rheumatoid arthritis may have a hard time getting around due to sore or stiff joints. Those with multiple sclerosis may deal with aching muscles or severe fatigue. During warmer months, those with lupus or psoriasis may experience flare-ups from the heat and ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Barometric Pressure
The changes in barometric pressure can wreak havoc on your body, especially in those suffering from autoimmune diseases. Low barometric pressures can increase feelings of pain in those with fibromyalgia. It can also trigger flare-ups in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Managing Your Autoimmune Conditions As The Weather Changes
As you navigate your wellness journey, remembering to think holistically can help you manage your autoimmune symptoms as the weather continues to change.
Wearing extra layers during colder months can help maintain a more consistent body temperature. Using heating pads on sore joints can help stimulate healthy circulation. Acupuncture and cupping sessions can also help loosen tight muscles and encourage blood flow.
During warm months, staying hydrated, using non-toxic UV skin protection, and low-impact exercise can help facilitate circulation and lymphatic drainage.
Meditation, massage therapy, and infrared saunas can also help reduce inflammation and promote healthy detoxification.
How Can Aria Integrative Help?
At Aria Integrative Medicine, we walk with you in your wellness journey. Our comprehensive bloodwork panels highlight autoimmune markers. This helps us create a personalized wellness plan to help you achieve better health outcomes.
Our physicians offer exceptional acupuncture, cupping, and infrared sauna services to help ease the discomfort of autoimmune symptom flare-ups. Come see us today to see what we can do for you!
