Why Do Weather Patterns Affect Us?
The weather this time of year has everything to due with increased pain. The body is sensitive to changes in barometric pressure. Many people can tell you when it is going to rain due to increased pain in their joints or healed broken bones. The weather person on the news talks about low-pressure fronts associated with impending rain. These low-pressure fronts allow things to swell in your body. The low pressure affects all disc conditions, spinal degeneration, bursitis, tendonitis and arthritis. So, if you have low grade swelling associated with misalignment, or some of the other conditions mentioned, you could have a flare-up of pain for no apparrent reason.
What Can I Do?
The first thing to remember is that you should be doing exercises and stretching on a regular basis. The stretching and exercises help to lubricate the joints and exercise helps to strengthen and support the joints. Chiropractic helps return normal joint motion and reduces inflammation. Massage helps circulation and reduces inflammation as well as facilitates relaxation.
Consider foods or supplements to also help reduce inflammation. Fish oil containing Omega 3 fatty acids and tumeric help reduce inflammation. Topical agents like Mineral Ice® and capsaicin help to district you from the pain. ZEEL®, a topical cream that we have here in our office can be very helpful. Yoga has been shown to help along with the combination of stretching, exercise, and relaxation breathing.
From a dietary standpoint, you need to know that foods high in fat increase inflammation, as do sugars and salt. Some authors also caution against eating foods from the Nightshade family (tomatoes, white potatoes, eggplant and bell peppers of all colors).
In closing, I would like to mention stress. It is common knowledge that stress increases pain and inflammation. So it is important to reduce the amount of stress that we have in our lives.
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional chiropractic care. For a free, no obligation consultation, please call our office today at 707.792.1400.