My hair is on edge, my joints are aching

Winter, with its cold, dry weather and limited sunlight, can lead to a variety of health problems. Dry skin and seasonal affective disorder increase, and the risk of respiratory illnesses like colds, flu, and COVID-19 also increases. The Daily Mail, a British daily newspaper, has highlighted some unexpected health problems that can arise during winter, along with ways to improve them.

 

joint pain

 

Arthritis and joint pain tend to worsen in the winter. Causes of joint pain include viral infections, inflammatory conditions like tendonitis, or injuries.

It is most commonly associated with arthritis, most commonly osteoarthritis, which causes the cartilage between bones to wear away, or rheumatoid arthritis, which causes joint tissue to swell.

Experts say that people with arthritis experience worsening symptoms when temperatures drop. While the exact reason for this is still unknown, there are several theories.

 

First, when the weather gets cold, the body reduces blood flow to the joints, focusing instead on vital organs. Experts say this can lead to joint stiffness and, ultimately, pain, and that the body is more sensitive to cold-induced pain.

A study of 117 patients with rheumatoid arthritis reported worse joint pain in winter than in spring. Frequent exposure to cold weather has also been linked to the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

 

A study of over 5,000 workers found that those who worked outdoors were 50% more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Experts recommend that people with joint pain avoid outdoor activities when it's cold, if possible. Instead, they advise that regular indoor exercise can help maintain health.

 

bone loss

 

Osteoporosis primarily occurs in older age. Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle, increasing the risk of fractures. During the winter, our bodies have difficulty absorbing calcium, a vital nutrient for bone health.

This exacerbates bone loss. This is related to the amount of sunlight exposure, or daylight hours. As daylight hours decrease during the winter, so does the amount of sun exposure. This leads to a deficiency of vitamin D, which the body produces through sunlight.

 

Vitamin D helps the body process and properly absorb calcium. Studies show that vitamin D obtained through sun exposure is necessary to maintain calcium levels necessary for normal cell and bone function.

 

Because foods containing vitamin D are rare, sunlight is considered the primary source. Experts say, "Elderly people should be careful to prevent falls when outdoors during the winter," and that "calcium and vitamin D supplements can help counteract the effects of bone loss."