Barometric Changes & Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia may cause debilitating fatigue and pain. Often barometric pressure and other weather conditions aggravate fibromyalgia symptoms. While researchers have not determined the exact relationship between barometric pressure and pain, a large amount of anecdotal evidence supports the theory that changes in barometric pressure trigger muscle pain, fatigue and headaches.

Function

• Barometric pressure measures the weight of the air around us. Sunny days have a higher barometric pressure and stormy days have a low barometric pressure.

Significance

• Fibromyalgia-Symptoms.org asserts that a 1981 study found that 90 percent of those people with fibromyalgia reported that the weather greatly influenced the severity of their symptoms. A study in Norway in 2002 found that fibromyalgia symptoms tend to worsen when the barometric pressure drops.

Effects

• According to Fibromyalgia-Symptoms.org, patients with fibromyalgia often report that sudden changes in the barometric pressure affect their levels of fatigue and pain. Also, they report that the barometric pressure changes affect their sleep and cause headaches.

Theories/Speculation

• According to John Hopkins Medicine, a drop in barometric pressure and/or temperature causes the body's tissues to expand. This swelling may increase fibromyalgia pain.

Considerations

• Fibromyalgia sufferers do not need to pack up and move to a warm, dry climate. John Hopkins Medicine recommends that patients use exercise to manage pain symptoms.