Have you ever heard of weather-related joint pains? It’s something people are talking about on social media.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Did you have any aches or pains that resurfaced with the cold temperatures in the Carolinas? Well, there might be a scientific reason for that.
Have you ever heard of weather-related joint pains? It’s something people are talking about on social media. It’s believed that changes in barometric pressure can trigger certain sensations in your joints.
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An Artic blast brought the coldest air the Carolinas have felt in over two years, causing a 65-hour period of below-freezing temperatures in Charlotte. It was the longest stretch of freezing weather in the Queen City in 25 years.
Panovich said low atmospheric pressure is also a contributing factor for people who deal with arthritis and other joint issues. So when your parents or grandparents say they can “feel” a storm coming in their sore knees or hands, there’s some truth to it.
“When there’s high pressure, it’s like having a mountain of air above your head,” Panovich explained. “When there’s low pressure, the atmosphere is actually thinner, so there’s less air pushing on your body.”
A Cleveland Clinic study on people who live with arthritis found that their aches increased on days with:
- Higher humidity
- Lower barometric pressure
- Stronger winds
“When the pressure goes down, those voids or fluids expand so it puts a little pressure on your joint and causes discomfort or pain,” Panovich said.
And in the wintertime? Panovich said that’s when you feel it the most.
“You throw in the fact that it’s cold outside and people tend to feel things a little more when it’s chilly,” he said.
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
