Monsoon Maladies: Steep Rise In Renal And Joint Problems During Monsoon

Monsoons not only lead to skin or digestive problems but it may even aggravate joint and renal issues. There is a vivid spike in cases of orthopedics and kidney infections.  The elderly population, ones who have undergone treatment for kidney problems or joint-related ailments need to take extra precautions during the monsoon season in order to embrace a healthy lifestyle and keep renal and joint problems at bay during monsoons.

A  large number of people lead a sedentary lifestyle that includes long hours of sitting in the same position, wrong posture at the workplace, irregular eating habits, lack of physical exertion, late-night shifts, smoking, long hours in front of the computer making orthopedics and renal ailments a common occurrence during the rainy season. In an exclusive interaction with OnlyMyHealth Dr. Ashish Suryavanshi Orthopaedic Surgeon, Lokmanya Hospital says “Monsoon can be harsh on your joints. Weather-related joint pain is commonly seen in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and can negatively impact their hips, knees, elbows, shoulders, and hands. This pain can interfere with one’s ability to do his/her daily activities. A majority of people encounter joint pain, muscle stiffness, and injury pain during the rainy season owing to sudden changes in the humidity levels, atmospheric pressure, sudden shift in the temperature, and precipitation. People with arthritis are more sensitive to the barometric changes.” 

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Additionally, Dr Rajan Kothari, Orthopedic Surgeon, Apollo Spectra, Pune explains “The sudden change in the temperature lowers one’s immunity making him/her falling prey to infections. During the humid conditions in the rainy season, cleanliness and personal hygiene are extremely important. Not taking care of yourself can cause kidney infections, damage, and scarring. Kidney scarring can raise the risk of health ailments such as high blood pressure and impaired kidney function in later life. Malaria, leptospirosis, dengue, typhoid, acute gastroenteritis, hepatitis A, and hepatitis E are some other seen health problems during the rainy season which in turn can lead to renal inflammation further causing kidney failure. Drink enough water, take medication on time, eat a lot of seasonal fruits, and avoid holding urine for a long time to keep your kidneys healthy.”

While talking about managing these monsoon maladies Dr. Suryavanshi concludes by saying “To manage joint pain, exercise daily but don’t go overboard. Regular physical exertion can reduce joint pain. Eat a balanced diet with nutritious food. Avoid junk, spicy, oily, and canned foods that can aggravate joint pain. In addition, stay hydrated to maintain the elasticity of joints, and take a warm bath to improve circulation and reduce joint pain.”