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Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis in Winter: Your Guide to Comfort and Care
Winter can bring unique challenges for those living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but you don’t have to face them alone. With the right strategies, you can stay comfortable and maintain your mobility all season long.
Why Winter Affects RA Symptoms
- Weather changes and joint pain: When the weather changes, especially before it gets colder, air pressure can drop. This shift may cause joints to swell slightly, leading to stiffness and discomfort, especially for those with RA.
- Lower temperatures: Cold weather can cause muscles to tighten and joints to stiffen, increasing discomfort. Reduced blood flow to the hands and feet in colder temperatures can also make stiffness more noticeable.
- Reduced activity levels: During winter, shorter days and colder weather often lead to spending more time indoors and moving less. This inactivity can weaken muscles, reduce flexibility, and make joints feel stiffer and more painful.
Many people with RA notice increased joint stiffness and discomfort during colder months. While the exact connection isn’t fully understood, several factors likely contribute:
These factors may amplify the inflammation already present in affected joints, making proactive management especially important during winter.
How To Manage RA in Winter
Winter may bring extra challenges, but there are simple steps you can take to stay comfortable and keep your RA symptoms under control:
Stay Warm
Keep your joints warm by layering clothing, using arthritis gloves, maintaining a comfortable home temperature, or soothing stiffness with a warm bath or heating pad.
Stay Hydrated
Heaters can dry out the air, leaving you dehydrated and potentially sore. Staying hydrated helps lubricate your joints and reduces stiffness. Drink water regularly throughout the day.
Keep Moving
- Yoga: Practice yoga to improve flexibility and strengthen the muscles around your joints.
- Stretching: Focus on areas with stiffness, such as your wrists, shoulders, or knees.
- Swimming: Heated pools offer a soothing, low-impact way to exercise.
- Walking: A short daily walk improves circulation and keeps your joints moving. Make it enjoyable with music or a friend.
Staying active is one of the best ways to reduce stiffness, ease inflammation, and boost your mood. Gentle, low-impact exercises may help keep your joints flexible and pain-free.
Start small and increase your activity gradually. Consistency is key, so aim for regular movement rather than overdoing it sporadically.
Take Control of RA This Winter
Winter doesn’t have to hold you back. With proactive self-care, regular activity, and expert support, you can manage your RA and stay active doing what you love.
At Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, we take a coordinated approach to care. Your rheumatologist collaborates closely with other specialists and your primary care doctor to create a personalized plan that supports your unique health needs. Schedule through our patient portal, on the MyKelsey app, or by calling 713-442-0000.
