Abu Dhabi, Aug 9 (IANS/WAM) The hot and humid climate of the Gulf region can have an adverse effect on rheumatoid arthritis, an expert said Monday.
At the 3rd Rheumatology Congress Oct 10-12 here, doctors will stress the role of education and lifestyle in fighting the disease, said Humeira Badsha, consultant rheumatologist at Al Biraa Arthritis and Bone Clinic (ABABC) and secretary of Emirates Society for Rheumatology.
He said 20 percent of the population in the Gulf is affected by affected by some form of rheumatic disease.
Although obesity and diabetes are known to have aggravated the disease, hot conditions too can have an adverse effect on it, said Badsha, who will chair the conference.
Obesity is a risk factor for both rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular diseases, he said, adding there are more than 100 types of arthritis.
Obesity can result from some of the treatments doctors give to rheumatoid arthritis patients and can also result from relative inactivity due to joint damage.
‘This is an increasing problem in the UAE and people need to be more active and lose weight in order to manage the pain and control the symptoms.
‘Heat and humidity can also cause the joints to swell more and can worsen the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis,’ he added.
‘In addition, being in an air conditioned environment can worsen problems of vitamin D deficiency. When patients stay indoors all day, they do not get vitamin D from the sun and this can cause vitamin D deficiency,’ he added.
–IANS/WAM
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