Weather sensitivity Every second rheumatist suffers

Radon heat therapy helps sensitive rheumatism patients

25/08/2014

When first autumn days come in, the best time of the year ends for rheumatics. While they are usually well on warm summer months, in the autumn they suffer from the cool moisture. About every second rheumatist is afflicted with weather sensitivity, which is usually reflected in pain, joint stiffness and restricted mobility. Rheumatologists advise affected persons to regular activity as well as to measures such as changing showers or sauna visits to regulate the stimulation threshold. Still, many need to increase their painkiller dosage on approaching cold fronts or windy weather. Multi-week cures in warm healing tunnels can be a good alternative for these patients. In addition to the soothing warmth in some former mines from the rock escaping radon provides pain relief.

Although there are some patients who even experience cold pain relief, most have more pain with wind and hypothermia in the affected joint regions. In the first place, you should wrap your joints well through thick clothes. A cure in warm tunnels - there are often temperatures of over 37.5 degrees and a high humidity - can be a treat for rheumatism. Patients enter a mountain with a tunnel and stay on the therapy stations for about 60 minutes. „Under these climatic conditions, blood vessels dilate and the blood circulation is promoted. As a result, the muscles relax, which in turn frees the nerves from painful pressure stimuli“, explains Univ.-Doz. Dr. Bertram HölzI, medical director of the Gasteiner Heilstollen. In the Austrian Gasteiner Heilstollen, the mountain rock additionally releases radon in small quantities. This inhibits the activity of inflammatory cells in rheumatics. „The Radonwärmetherapie also influences the serotonin metabolism, the disorder experts suspect as the cause of the increased pain sensation in case of weather changes“, reports Hölzl. Radon also influences the painkillers. The less active they are, the lower the pain. The effect ranges from clear pain relief to complete freedom from symptoms, it often lasts for months.

„In some patients, this effect begins at the end of the treatment, in others it retards after a few weeks“, thinks Dr. Hölzl. For many it is important months, in which not only disappear rheumatic symptoms or at least greatly diminish, but also physiotherapeutic and occupational therapies and sports activities can be integrated into everyday life again. Because, especially with rheumatics applies: Who rested, the rust. Movement counteracts rheumatic joint stiffening, prevents muscle breakdown and strengthens the bones. (Pm)