If you grew up around grandparents who said their joints hurt in the winter, it might have been easy to dismiss their complaints. You might have even asked yourself, “Does cold weather affect arthritis? And is it normal to have aches and pains at 60?”
However, as we age, we find out that it’s no myth. Cold weather really does impact many chronic conditions common in seniors, including arthritis.
Most people have heard that arthritis gets worse during the winter, but cold weather can also affect conditions like diabetes and heart disease. If your loved one has one of these conditions, they’ll need extra care and support when the temperature drops.
Fortunately, it’s easy to help your loved one with their condition, if you know what to expect. By learning how the cold will impact them, building strategies and preparing for emergencies, you can help them make the most of the winter months while staying safe and healthy.
If you can’t be there with your loved one this winter, never fear: A professional caregiver can help manage their condition. Caregivers can help seniors get around, assist with medication management and guide them through winter wellness strategies. With a caregiver’s compassionate, steady support, they can stay mobile and independent all year long.
How Does Cold Weather Affect Arthritis?
Just like motor oil, joint fluid thickens when the temperature drops. Cold weather can also heighten pain sensitivity, slow circulation and trigger muscle spasms. That’s why you might feel stiff and achy after a few minutes out in a winter storm.
It’s harder for people who already have joint problems. Cold weather intensifies arthritis symptoms like pain and stiffness. It can also reduce coordination and balance, making snow and ice more hazardous.
There are several ways you can help your loved one manage their arthritis in the winter. First, help them keep up with their arthritis exercises throughout the year. This can keep their strength and coordination up and reduce their pain. Taking walks is a great way for seniors to stay mobile and independent; help them find a warm and ice-free place to walk, such as your local mall.
Once winter rolls around, make sure to keep your loved one warm. Keep the house at a comfortable temperature and supply them with as many sweaters and blankets as they need.
How Does Cold Weather Affect Diabetes?
When it’s cold, your body burns extra energy to stay warm. It does so through a stress response that releases more sugar into the blood. Stress reduces the production of insulin, causing blood sugar readings to climb even higher.
Winter is also peak flu season. When you get sick, your body fights back using that same blood sugar-elevating stress response.
Here’s the good news: Diabetes in elderly adults is very manageable. If you’re caring for a diabetic loved one, you’re probably already doing the right thing; you’ll just need to be a little more vigilant about their daily diabetes care during the winter.
How Does Cold Weather Affect Heart Disease?
That same cold-weather stress response also causes blood vessels to constrict, raising blood pressure.
Winter also makes people want to bundle up inside. They tend to exercise less, eat more food and drink more alcohol, all of which are known risk factors for heart disease. And when they go outside, it’s often to shovel snow—a common trigger for a heart attack in elderly people, according to the AMA.
Like diabetes, heart disease in seniors is often manageable. You’re likely already ensuring they get healthy meals, encouraging them to cut alcohol consumption and helping them exercise. So, what else can you do?
Find your loved one a low-impact exercise class they enjoy. Group exercises like Zumba or yoga are a great weekly social occasion they can look forward to. When we look forward to exercise, we tend to stick with it.
Lastly, make sure to get help shoveling your loved one’s snow, even if they think they’re up to it. This can keep your loved one safe and give you peace of mind.
Make an Emergency Plan for Winter
Make sure to factor your loved one’s condition into your emergency planning. For example, if they’re diabetic, include a spare diabetes care kit in your emergency pack. If they have arthritis, make sure the path from their bedroom to the nearest exit is short and clear.
Then, get as much information as you can. Look into winter safety tips for seniors and sign up for weather alerts. Build an emergency kit with everything you and your loved one might need and connect with friends, family and neighbors to build a support network you can call on.
Caregivers Can Help Manage Chronic Conditions
You don’t need to manage your loved one’s condition yourself. FirstLight Home Care’s skilled and compassionate caregivers make it easy to manage your loved one’s chronic conditions, keeping them independent and able to enjoy their favorite activities. They offer the kind of nurturing care that keeps seniors’ strength up and their stress down, and they’ll provide warm, genuine companionship every step of the way.
Does cold weather affect arthritis and other chronic conditions? Yes, but diligence and an in-home caregiver can help alleviate some of these pains. Contact us for more information and to connect with a FirstLight agency near you!