subject: High Heat And Humidity Can Exacerbate Pain, Florida Pain Management Doctors Report [print this page] Florida residents know all too well how difficult it can be to deal with the Sunshine State's high heat and humidity. What's more, those with chronic pain such as arthritis, asthma, migraines and other ailments often report to their Florida pain management doctors that their symptoms get worse when the heat is on and the humidity is high.
Several U.S. university studies have shown that heart, vascular and respiratory problems increase when temperatures rise, sometimes causing heat stress or heat stroke. In addition, a study in Argentina found that high humidity contributed to flareups of both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Florida pain clinic professionals also report that high humidity can cause fatigue (high humidity prevents your sweat from evaporating, which causes your body to use more energy, leaving you tired and sluggish).
High heat and humidity also can exacerbate the levels of ozone in the environment, possibly causing additional distress and pain in those who have asthma.
Those with underlying conditions may be more susceptible to heat stress and heat stroke. Heat stroke happens when your body's natural ability to regulate its temperature is compromised. High heat and humidity can cause your body's temperature to rise rapidly, not allowing its sweating mechanism to keep up and cool your body. Heat stroke can see a person's body temperature rise to 106 degrees or higher in as little as 10 or 15 minutes, which can man death or disability if emergency treatment isn't quickly available.
If you do experience increased pain levels during Florida's muggy and hot summers, a visit to Florida pain management doctors could be of help. The physicians at the Florida pain clinic undoubtedly will recommend that you drink plenty of liquids (a minimum of a liter of water a day), stay indoors and/or where it's cool as much as possible, and curtail excessive physical activity.
