As a heat wave sweeps through the nation, those with autoimmune diseases may be especially vulnerable. The warm weather may trigger flares in patients with lupus, multiple sclerosis (MS), or warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Exposure to UV light and extreme temperatures can induce inflammation and trigger a flare of autoimmune symptoms.
One study found that patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were more likely to experience rash, serositis, hematologic, and joint flares when the temperature increased. Fine particulate matter (or particle pollution) concentration was also found to be significantly associated with rash, joints, serositis, neurological, pulmonary, and hematological flares in lupus patients.
Moreover, 58% of MS patients reported experiencing heat sensitivity and that heat triggered increases in symptoms such as fatigue, pain, concentration difficulties, and urination urgency. Another study found that Grave's patients were more likely to be diagnosed with Graves' disease during the warmer half of the year, May to October (suggesting that symptoms may be more prominent during that time).
Do you experience heat-related flares? Please share your experience with heat and what you have done to manage flares in the summer by making a short video below (with an option to anonymize the video).
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