[Click! Health] Knees Ache Every Summer... Maintain Proper Temperature and Humidity

There are some people who particularly complain of knee pain during the hot and humid summer season. This is because joints are affected by environmental factors such as atmospheric pressure, humidity, and temperature changes. When the atmospheric pressure drops and humidity rises, the internal pressure of the joint increases, causing the inflamed area to swell. Additionally, frequent exposure of the joint area to cold air from air conditioners or fans can cause the synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant in the joints, to harden, potentially worsening arthritis.

[Image source=Pixabay]

According to the monthly patient trend of degenerative joint disease from last year by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service on the 15th, the number of patients with degenerative joint disease increases in summer, which is usually considered bad for joint health, compared to winter. The number of patients with degenerative joint disease was around 815,317 in January and 779,406 in February, but it exceeded 900,000 in June with 956,041, July with 922,329, and August with 908,767. Especially this summer is expected to have a prolonged rainy season and continued hot weather, so the number of people experiencing joint pain, including degenerative arthritis, is expected to increase further.

Dr. Ha Hae-chan, an orthopedic specialist at Bareunbon Hospital, emphasized, “Joints inevitably are greatly affected by changes in atmospheric pressure, humidity, and temperature,” and added, “It is important to carefully manage joints by following the ‘summer joint health guidelines.’”

First, maintaining an appropriate indoor temperature is necessary. During the hot summer, the greater the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors, the easier it is to experience joint pain. To protect the joints from this, it is best to keep the indoor temperature at 26 degrees Celsius. If excessive air conditioning cannot be avoided, using blankets, scarves, or socks to prevent the painful area from being directly exposed to cold air is also a good method.

The second is maintaining appropriate humidity. Humidity is also a factor that affects joints. To reduce joint pain, humidity should be kept below 50%. While frequent ventilation can lower humidity, during the rainy season or when ventilation is difficult, it is advisable to use items that can manage humidity such as charcoal, moisture absorbers, or dehumidifiers.

The last is using compresses. When joint pain is severe, heat compresses can help relieve the pain. Heat compresses are suitable for degenerative arthritis, but for inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis or acute injuries, cold compresses should be applied. However, since compresses only temporarily relieve pain and are not a fundamental treatment, if the pain persists, it is important to visit a specialist for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Ha Hae-chan, Director and Orthopedic Specialist at Bareunbon Hospital
Photo by Bareunbon Hospital

Dr. Ha said, “In the case of degenerative arthritis, symptoms are often mild or pain appears intermittently, causing many to miss the treatment period,” and added, “If arthritis is neglected or managed incorrectly by self-judgment, symptoms can worsen or, in severe cases, cause bone deformities, so if there is pain, it is necessary to see a specialist for treatment.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.