Our lifestyle is making us more and more ill; allergies or rheumatic diseases are some of the pathologies whose incidence is growing and preventing us from living fully, even on holidays when we take the opportunity to relax and rest.
This summer we are experiencing high temperatures for longer periods of time. These are the so-called "heat waves" and, in our day-to-day lives, we have to live with the consequences this has on our general health. We are more "flattened", our blood pressure can drop, we sweat more to regulate our temperature and we must be careful with sick people. and older people and children. But what specifically happens with the rheumatic diseases?
The exposure to temperature changes are not the only factors to be taken into account by people with a rheumatic disease.. For example, the feeding can alleviate the symptoms of rheumatic diseases and the moderate physical exertion can enable us to manage pain during the trip. In any case, there are many rheumatic diseases, their symptoms and their causes, and you should always consult a specialist before travelling. Nur general recommendations are these:
If you want to enjoy your trip, look for moderate temperatures.
Heat and cold do not influence the incidence of rheumatic diseases. However, the cold can aggravate certain symptoms. At low temperatures it is more evident, as an immediate consequence of the cold is the muscle contractionas a defence mechanism. This can lead to increased pain due to the effect of muscle stiffness in the joints, for example, and other parts of the locomotor system.
The cold can also cause a blood vessel disturbance of the extremities and affect patients with lupus or scleroderma.
Humidity and high pressure also aggravate symptoms. However, none of these factors affect all patients equally, and in fact they may not be affected at all. We do recommend, precisely because of this possible worsening of symptoms, that you seek a comfortable destination where the risk factor of cold is absent.
As for warm and beach destinations, the greater impact of the conditions on our health depends on the specific pathology. For example, the sea is good for psoriasis symptoms people with lupus, however, may find that their symptoms of stiffness are aggravated.
In general, the sun is harmful for people with autoimmune diseases with photosensitivity.such as lupus itself. Ultraviolet radiation can increase inflammation or skin rashes associated with this sensitivity to light, as well as symptoms of fatigue and fever, or joint pain. It is therefore advisable to protect the skin with high-quality full-screen sunscreen at least half an hour before exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Food, the key to enjoying the journey
The Mediterranean diet is particularly good for fighting inflammation and provide joint health for people with rheumatic disease. The good news is that the foods that describe the Mediterranean diet can be found in many tourist destinations.
Fish rich in Omega 3. These fats have an anti-inflammatory effect and help to mitigate chronic diseases. In addition, these fatty acids can only be obtained from food because the body does not produce them itself.
Nuts. They are satiating, have anti-inflammatory effects and can be carried in your bag or rucksack as a snack during travel
Fruit and vegetables. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties keep the cells healthy and, in particular, solanaceous vegetables are low in calories and stimulate the immune system. When travelling, however, make sure to wash all fruit thoroughly and eat cooked vegetables.
If you want to know more about the most appropriate foods to control rheumatic diseases, read this article.
Guidelines you can follow to enjoy your trip
The Spanish Society of Rheumatology published a series of recommendations two years ago, which are still valid today. It is important to consult your doctor before travelling and, in any case, to carry a current report on your illness. This way, if you have a problem, the specialists treating you will have accurate information about your condition.
On the other hand, if you are taking medication, these guidelines should be included in the report and you should ensure that the storage status of this medication is optimal.
In addition, there are diseases that we must be more careful with, for example, gout and seafood consumptionwhich can aggravate symptoms, and immunosuppressive drugs incompatible with vaccines required for travel to certain countries.
The sun, dryness, or immobility that air travel requires are risk factors that can make our journey more uncomfortable.
However, the biological medicine offers us solutions and, if not a definitive cure, then a disappearance of the symptomatology that can make our lives easier in general. At Biosalud Day Hospital we are committed, in general, to a treatment without immunosuppressants to look at all the factors that have caused the disease. As specialists in rheumatic diseases we are aware of the virtues of conventional medicine but in our case, the view of health and disease is broader, which allows us to to make accurate diagnoses and effective treatments.
