Image: Weather can be a significant consideration in day-to-day planning for those who experience chronic pain. A recent study, led by geography and atmospheric sciences lecturer Dr. Christopher Elcik, reveals a significant demand for new weather-based pain forecasts. Over half of the study’s respondents also say they’d take preventative measures, such as medication, resting, or avoiding triggers if the hypothetical weather-based pain risk was high. “We’re finding more consistent relationships between weather patterns and pain, so it seems more possible to make weather-based pain forecasts,” said lead author and geography/atmospheric sciences lecturer Christopher Elcik in an interview with UGA Today’s Erica Techo. “I see how much people can be affected by these types of pain, so if I can provide someone with insight into the level of risk for a day, maybe people can take steps to prevent the pain from happening,” Elcik said. “There are preventative measures people can take if risks are higher.”
