A recent article published in
The Medical Republic titled “
Raynaud’s Not Just a Cold Weather Friend” reports that warmer climates and Raynaud’s don’t always mix. Researchers found that warmer climates, hot temperatures and humidity can trigger Raynaud’s attacks nearly as much as those caused by exposure to cold temperatures.
These findings are the result of a multinational study with over 20,000 data points reported from more than 2,000 Raynaud’s patients. The study focused on those with Raynaud’s secondary to scleroderma. Since scleroderma patients tend to have more severe attacks than the average Raynaud’s sufferer, it’s a better sample for witnessing the range of symptoms compared to those with the milder primary form of the condition. Participants covered a broad cross-section of climates, including: The US, UK, Canada, France, Spain, Mexico and Australia.
Here’s a quote from the authors of the study, “Hot outside temperatures are associated with Raynaud’s attacks almost as bad as the cold…people with Raynaud’s phenomenon who live in hot climates also have to cope with excessive cooling in buildings, such as office buildings and shopping facilities, which they might not be able to avoid.” As expected, extremely cold temps caused the greatest severity at -13 degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms progressively improved up to about 77 degrees. As the temperature rose to 95 degrees and above, symptoms increased again, although not to the same level of severity experienced at the colder extremes.
This research confirms what we tell people about moving to a warmer climate – it depends on your ability to control your daily environment. Year-round air conditioning in offices, stores and other buildings can be brutal for us Frosties! While many Raynaud’s sufferers claim to have found relief in warmer climates, year-round air conditioning in areas with hot and humid weather can cause considerable pain and discomfort. On top of these challenges, add the stress associated with moving (stress also being a trigger for Raynaud’s attacks) and the loss of access to family, friends and support resources for child care, pets, and other daily issues, it’s best to evaluate the move from a full lifestyle perspective – not just relocate for the warmer climate.
Too bad doctors don’t think this through when they advise Raynaud’s patients to move South!
Here’s the full research report published in the
The Lancet Rheumatology, Volume 6, Issue 10, October 2024:
The association of outdoor temperature and self-reported Raynaud’s phenomenon severity among people with systemic sclerosis: a Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Cohort study.
