Question regarding climate & humity on various ailments
 

x

Dear Senior Citizen:
I can't answer for the 2nd and 3rd ailments you listed, but I do know (for arthritis) that joints feel much worse in a cold, damp climate, especially when the barometric pressure is falling. Thankfully, overall, Florida doesn't have a damp climate compared to some parts of the South. We've lived on the sea or near the sea for the past 12 years and my arthritis never felt so good! I think that will continue to be true inland.

Living part time in NY, Staten Island to be exact, the humidity and dampness are a major factor in my husbands arthritis problems. He feels much better here in TV, where the humidity is considerably less than where we live in NY. I, on the other hand have SLE.*....and avoid the sun as much as possible. I try to go out either early in the morning or after 4 p.m., times when it is cooler. I use sunscreen at all times and UV protective clothing.

*considered mild at this time, but also have other connective tissue issues

x

x

Hi Senior, renting for a few months during the Winter is a great idea. We lived in the Hudson Valley for many years and the humidity was intense with a low cloud cover on many days in the Summer. Not good. Florida is hot and humid in the Summer but the light is incredible. An important factor in my well being. Come on down!!!!

I feel better here in The Villages than I do in Cincinnati, and I think it is because I am much more active here. I have some Arthritis and it feels the same North and South.

I don't have MS certainly and don't want to make light of it.

I think I read somewhere where research is being done on the common Measles virus, Rubella, being a factor in Multiple Sclerosis. That it somehow reactivates in later life and attacks the nervous system? Has anyone read that?

I would think the summer heat would sap the strength of somebody with MS.

x

x

x

My wife has relapsing/remitting MS. We moved here from upstate New York. We were fully aware that heat is known to cause exacerbations of MS. However, in her case, the exact opposite happened. Her MS, with weekly injections of Avonex, has been almost a non issue for the past six years. On extremely hot days (one or two a year) she simply stays inside the air conditioning. Otherwise, the sun has been a blessing.

Since we moved here, her MRI lesions have dropped from hundreds to almost none. IN NY there were serious episodes about every two years (even with avonex). In six years here, there has not been one.

Another friend of ours from NY had a mother with MS. The same thing happened to her when she moved from NY to Florida.

Some, so called medical experts have tried to convince us otherwise, but they are full of prunes. This is our case and we know our results.

x

For MS patients, heat is commonly a troublesome thing. Heat typically exacerbates the symptoms of MS patients. The MS Society web page offers lots of tips on staying cool along with effective devices for the same. However, that being said, the MS Support Group in TV is excellent and there are a large number of MS patients in TV.

x