Wondering- Any Medical Conditions that Improve/Worsen in Fla. Climate
 

We will move to TV in 8 months. We have lived in New England all our lives. I'm wondering if people have noticed that any health conditions have improved or worsened; such as allergies, etc. (or developed) in the Florida climate- Thanks

My sciatica, which hadn't bothered me after moving from a one-story house to a three-story condo, flared up drastically when we moved to TV. I spent one summer barely able to walk, in physical therapy and later with a chiropractor, with only about 80 percent improvement. Eventually we bought a summer home that has two stories and only one bathroom, on the second floor. After going up and down the stairs the first month, all sciatica problems went away. I really think going up and down stairs keeps my back in better alignment. If we lived in TV full time, I would find a gym with a stair stepper. But there's also a turn in the staircase that makes the movement different than if it were just a stair stepper.
Conversely, my sinuses bother me in the summer home but disappear in The Villages home.

Painful dry cracked skin cleared up in two weeks. Never going back north

Sunburn is worse.

With hangovers a close second.

Don't drive your golf cart while drunk, and you will certainly be overall happier and healthier here. Sunshine, social opportunities and physical activities all lead to overall wellbeing.

Depending on diagnosis, I would think the warmer climate in Florida would be better for the bones and joints. Plus the tendency toward an active lifestyle and the ability to remain active outdoors for 12 months instead of just a few months. One thing I can clearly testify to.... now that I have had the misfortune to have to relocate further north, NC, I now realize how the climate in Florida was so kind to the skin, hair and nails. I have never experienced the skin problems that I am now experiencing here. Never in my life would I dream that I would cry for the return to that humidity, lol...

Warm weather is much easier on old aching joints with osteoarthritis. But the best thing about Florida is that ticks are very few and far between.

Allergy capital of the world, something is always giving off pollen and the winter is so mild that it really doesn't abate.
But.. it's great here, c'mon down.

My wife’s arthritis and asthma are better. For me, just getting out of the severe cold helps my bones as the cold weather goes right through my bones now a days. Extreme heat is tough as well but we are not here in the summer.

I have a whole grocery list of autoimmune diseases, one of them being Reynaud’s Phenomenon, also peripheral vascular disease. In cold weather my circulation shuts down to my extremities. Last year we tried moving to Kentucky (from Venice, FL). By the end of the winter I had lost a piece of the end of one of my fingers. We moved back to Florida so fast my head spun. So…..circulatory diseases, particularly if triggered by cold will definitely improve. Cold induced asthma, which I also have, no longer a problem. And a whole rash of other diseases can be helped by the availability of the perfect weather and a beautiful, safe environment to get out and soak up the sunshine and fresh air while getting some physical activity. Yoga classes, water aerobics, cardio drumming, walking, no end to the resources here to improve your health. Almost anything can be improved by the lifestyle we have here if you make use of what is available. Welcome to paradise.

MS May or may not worsen. Heat is not your friend with MS, summers are brutal for many with MS in Florida, or pretty much the south

I have MS and have not found it to be a factor unless I try to exercise in the heat of the day in summer.

My parents moved here in 1996. Within the year my father’s asthma was much worse, exacerbated by the humidity here. However, by then, my dad decided he was too old to move anymore, and he and my mom stayed, and we ended up moving here to help them out.

My husband, who had never had allergies in his entire 70 plus years, developed allergies, the months of March through May being the worst. I, on the other hand, who have always had terrible allergies, actually do much better here in Florida. Probably because I spend so much more time indoors to get away from the heat.

My husband's PT guy says FL retirees start to get knee issues after about 2 to 3 years. Our legs weaken as a result of moving here from 2-story homes w/ basements, and undulating terrain. The weakened muscles no longer support the knee properly, and create knee issues. The stair-climber solution sounds like a good one for this issue as well as the sciatica. Also, I had seasonal allergies up north, and still have them in the spring down here.

Burn survivors, skin grafts do not have sweat glands, will find the summer heat/obressive humidity (whatever sweat that you have doesn't evaporate [cool] well) prime time for heat exhaustion.

But the lack of crushing cold winters are fantastic: burn victims are sensitive to temperature.

I've heard of lots of skin cancer, as you can imagine. Preventable I reckon if you're careful of when you do outdoor activities with adequate sunscreen/clothing.

I lived in New England for 60 years. Only had minor allergies in the spring or late summer. I moved to Florida six years ago and now my allergies are pretty much a constant. There seems to be something blooming all year here. Outside of that I don't notice much change.

Fewer heart attacks due to shoveling heavy snow.

We are from N.E.been here for 21 years wouldn't go back to freezing weather or snow .your more healthy being here ,not locked up in the house for five months out of the year ,get out and do things every day .

Better vocal cords
 

I know this sounds more than strange, but we came from Denver. Had vocal/singing physician that was treating me for vocal cord issues. Mine were damaged and seizing up limiting my singing and causing choking several times a month. He finally said either two month shots into the vocal cords forever or move to humidity. Thankfully that was already in our plans. Singing again like a newly standing goal, very unsure but the voice is coming back and not a single seizing/choking spell.

Born and raised in Florida.. lived in Georgia while working, and "tried" Las Vegas in retirement and quickly came back here. I wouldn't live anywhere else. There isn't anywhere else you can be this active everyday and I love that most everyone living here are happy.. seems the unhappy ones post here haha.

I was sickened with upper respiratory symptoms my entire life up north and they have all stopped in full since we move here a little over 6 years ago. My first trip to the Doctor in The Villages had him prescribe Montelukast and the suffering is gone.

I still have COPD because of a lifetime of smoking and thinking that I would never pay the price for puffing. Wish I would have listened earlier and quit. I did quit about 8 years ago. 2nd best thing that ever happened to me other than finding my wife! I’m a lucky and thankful man.

I have found that my joints are exponentially less painful in the warm FL climate. My allergies haven’t gotten worse, the season just lasts longer.

The biggest benefit, coming from a cold climate, is to be outdoors doing things in the winter. If you take advantage of that, you will be healthier from just the added exercise.

Somebody warned us not to overdo it when we first moved here. There were so many activities and we were not used to being as active. Sure enough we both ended up with (minor) sports injuries. Unfortunately at our age it takes longer to bounce back. So I will pass on the advice.

Allergies worsen for sure.

No more fall allergies! I always felt sick every fall for about 6 weeks
 

I used to feel sick for about 6 weeks every fall, until we got a good, hard frost to kill the pollens. I think it was ragweed, but since moving to Florida in 2001, no more fall allergies!

The humid air is good for dry skin, and you won't slip and fall on ice...

Allergies
 

Amen to allergy in Florida. Around the oak trees and the pollen very bad for allergies. However, beats freezing temps, ice and snow.

Skin is much better here and bone joints creak way less, not to mention the beautiful sunshine helps the overall mind, body and spirit! Enjoy!

"We will move to the villages in 8 months." I have no idea why you would ask NOW. I would ask your doctor who knows your history,

My itchy, dry Wyoming skin appreciates the months that I spend in Florida.

Allergies have increased since moving here from gulf coast.

I would echo that La lamy's suggestion that skin cancer needs to be watched closely/carefully.

Wife and I wintered in TV for over 20 years.
Last visit was 2019/20 winter.
Missed next two years because of Covid travel restrictions, and gave up this year because the value has gone with all the rental rate increases (Home, car rental, flights, food etc.)
Never noticed any difference health wise, until we didn't come.
Two winters and a third on its way back in UK, have proved to both of us how beneficial warm Florida was to our aches and pains.
We both miss it!

Two Bills: Sorry to hear. I understand your dilemma. Snowbird expenses have proved to be “excessive” the last few years. Purchasing a home in TV also is challenging to find value for the middle class income wage earners. Fortunately we purchased in TV several years ago. We love TV but it has become unaffordable for many but still a value for those that can afford the lifestyle. It is no secret there is a shortage of affordable housing across the United States. Sorry my comments are a bit off topic. On topic, I agree the warm Florida winters are great for our aging bodies.

Allergies can increase. Some move from FL to AZ to get away from them. Warm humid air breeds molds. Trees like Live Oak adds pollens.

Yes, pollen and mildew allergies are a real problem in Florida. There is an algae called red tide that affect people badly within 5 miles distance from the ocean. It is not present all year round so you need to check with a Florida health site before you go to a saltwater beach. It affects the throat and lungs and is bad if you have allergies. You need to drink a lot of water during your 1st 2 months in Florida to get used to the heat and humidity. Also, the summers are deadly hot. If you plan on spending the summers up north, then the summers are not a problem for you. If you are planning on being a full-time resident, I would SERIOUSLY recommend that you try one of the Carolinas. Florida summers are hot and getting hotter!

Living Here Helped my Sinuses
 

I typically have 3 sinus infections a year with change of seasons. We’ve been here since January and no sinus infections. I also usually get very dry skin in the winter but no more.

I'm from New England too. Allergies are my #1 complaint. My eyes are almost always stinging, and I now have to use fluonase every single day to keep my nose from running 24/7.

Compare with up north, when I had a runny nose when it was really cold outside and I had to actually BE outside, and the first two weeks of spring when the pollen count was high.

As for skin cancer - most of the damage was done when you are a kid. It catches up to you when you get older. Skin cancers you have diagnosed at age 60, were first formed when you were 10, and subsequent years of baby oil and iodine or Hawaiian Tropic Professional Tanning Oil basically fed the cells until they became the things you have to have burned or shaved off today.

But being in the sun a lot does exacerbate the damage previously done. Anything that might have waited to show up when you're 80, could easily show up when you're 60 instead because you're out in the sun more now than you were before. Just make sure you're on top of it, get a full body skin check every year.