HEALTH IN WINTERS: Take care of joints in winter

Zirakpur, November 22, 2012:  “Many people would complain of worsening pains in winters. Low air pressure during rain and low temperature in winters were main reasons for increasing pains. In cold weather the body might circulate less blood to the peripheral areas as a way of conserving warm blood around the heart. As a result, joints became stiffer, which lead to joint pain.”

These views were shared by Dr. Harinder Batth, a Senior Orthopaedic Consultant in Dashmesh Orthopedic and Trauma Center, Zirakpur while speaking during a seminar on ‘Joints care in Winter’ at Dashmesh Orthopedic and Trauma Center, Zirakpurtoday. He said that when the skin is colder, pain sensors work more, which was why more things hurt, In addition, cold weather tended to create lifestyle conditions that could lead to arthritic symptoms. During the winter, many people were more sedentary and their joints tend to stiffen up.

Dr Batth talked about some arthritis pain relief tips when one aching joints act up in winter. He said if it’s cold outside, keep you warm with gloves over hands that ache and added woolen layers over knees and legs. Warm clothes raise local temperature and increase local blood floe relieving pains. The people with joint pain should stay active and the best way was to plan an indoor exercise plan.

He said that swimming in a heated pool was both great exercise and soothing to joints. You could also get relief from warm baths. Just don’t go right out into the cold after your soak. Let your body temperature normalize a bit first.

Being deficient in vitamin D might would make osteoarthritis worse. You were less likely to get enough vitamin D in the winter, so this was a good time to take a supplement or make sure your diet was vitamin D-rich, remarked Dr Batth.

Particularly when the weather turns icy, people with arthritis needed to protect their joints from further damage. If you were going outside, pick solid, supportive shoes with good treads and try to walk on a surface.Omega-3 fatty acids did have some benefit because they seemed to reduce the level of inflammation. You needed about 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams a day to get benefits. Avoid overdose as they could increase the risk of bruising or bleeding. Massage could help ease those cramped muscles and decreases the stiffness,” asserted Dr Batth.