Symptoms like joint pain, stiffness, and swelling may be worse when it's cold, humid, and/or rainy. Plus, people with psoriatic arthritis might also experience more skin symptoms during winter months. Again, this may be because people tend to get less sunlight in the winter.
Cold and dry weather can trigger PsA symptoms. At the same time, PsA pain, stiffness, and swelling may increase with cold, damp weather and barometric pressure changes.
Many people notice that rainy or muggy weather makes their joints stiff and achy. Some people with PsA feel humid weather affects them as much as very dry air. But more research is need to back that up. Humid, cold weather may be the worst combo for your joints.
“Many people say their joint stiffness gets worse in very hot weather, and that may be at least partly related to fluid retention,” says Dr Carol Cooper, GP with an interest in rheumatology. “Keeping cool, staying in the shade and wearing natural fabrics can help.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can relieve pain and reduce inflammation for people with mild psoriatic arthritis. NSAIDs available without a prescription include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve). Stronger NSAIDs are available by prescription.
Foods like fatty red meats, dairy, refined sugars, processed foods, and possibly vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants (you might hear them called nightshades) may all cause inflammation. Avoid them and choose fish, like mackerel, tuna, and salmon, which have omega-3 fatty acids.
Medically supervised ultraviolet light therapy is sometimes used to help treat psoriasis, and most people with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis find that the sun improves their skin's appearance, sometimes dramatically. “Ultraviolet rays are anti-inflammatory and can calm the skin and improve lesions,” says Dr. Gohara.
For many people who have psoriatic arthritis, waking up is not the highlight of the day. Joint pain and stiffness are often most severe in the mornings. Inflammatory activity can surge at night because of your body's circadian rhythms.
Psoriatic arthritis symptoms tend to improve when the weather is warmer. Doctors don't know exactly why this happens, but heat in general tends to help with joint stiffness. Often, people with psoriatic arthritis feel better when taking warm showers or using heat compresses.
If you have psoriatic arthritis, you are at a higher risk of getting the flu and having flu-related complications. There are steps that you can take to protect yourself, such as getting a flu shot. If you do have flu-like symptoms, it's important to tell your doctor right away.
“Worsening joint pain and swelling, or new or worsening psoriatic lesions, are the most common red flags that someone is having a PsA flare,” says Yamen Homsi, M.D., the section chief of rheumatology at NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. But there may be other signs that a flare is on the way.
Rheumatologists often prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also known as NSAIDs, to people with psoriatic arthritis. These medications can help ease pain and curb the swelling that accompanies this condition. Common NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.
Generally psoriatic arthritis is a mild condition. With proper treatment and help from others you can relieve joint pain and stiffness and keep skin problems under control. Some people however have a more serious disease and require combinations of medications to control symptoms and prevent joint damage.
Tea is one of the most-studied drinks when it comes to its benefits for arthritis patients. Green, black and white teas are all rich in polyphenols – compounds from plants that have strong anti-inflammatory effects. You'll find the highest polyphenol levels in green and white teas.
Endurance exercises
These activities can help improve your cardiovascular fitness and overall health as well as your psoriatic arthritis symptoms. The best endurance exercises for people who have psoriatic arthritis are walking, swimming, and biking, Lindsey says.
Vitamin D deficiency is currently considered a pandemic and is associated with comorbidities including psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
Water Intake Helps Ease Joint Pain and Boosts Joint Health
It's important to keep your joints in tip-top shape if you have psoriatic arthritis. Water helps maintain all body functions, many of which affect your joints.
Why Is Vitamin D Important for Psoriatic Arthritis? Vitamin D is important for your overall health. It helps your body retain calcium and phosphorus, both of which are important to build bone. But it also may help reduce inflammation, which is thought to play a role in the development of psoriatic arthritis.
PsA Is an Autoimmune Disease
Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning it occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, in this case the joints and skin. The faulty immune response causes inflammation that triggers joint pain, stiffness and swelling.
Even so, the pain and discomfort associated with psoriatic arthritis can be significant. A study published in 2015 in the journal PLoS One found that the overall pain, joint pain, and fatigue reported by psoriatic arthritis patients was significantly greater than that reported by people with rheumatoid arthritis.