Weather affecting medical conditions

[aka pixi]

Not sure if this is the right section, but why does the weather affect certain medical conditions? I have fibromyalgia and last week when the weather started being hot and sunny the fibro got much worse, towards the end of the week it started easing off, then the weather changed again and its bad again. I believe its something to do with the change in air pressure, but why does it do this?

Thanks

[Dr Hungry]

Fibromyaliga is incredibly complicated and no-one really knows how it works, so it's a bit difficult to answer that question! Some vaguely similar conditions like Lupus are affected by sunlight, so it might be that if you were outside a lot and caught the sun a bit, then it caused the fibromyalgia to flare up. I think the disease is also quite strongly linked to mood and things like that though. Perhaps subconciously you were longing for rain and when you got sunshine instead, the fibromyalgia started acting up in protest!

I'm sorry I can't give a proper explanation, but it's just such a complicated disease and it's still a bit of a mystery to most people. I think your air-pressure theory is as good as any doctor could give.

[Simeon]

With regards to general ailments I would think not only air pressure makes a difference but also

Humidity, Temperature, Pollen, UV light plus many more

[aka pixi]

hi doc and simeon, thanks for your answers