Hurricane Sandy has been a game changer for many of us.

Well over a week later, many are still without electricity, thousands have lost their homes, and countless have lost income because their home or workplace is in shambles. On top of that, the storm also has changed the political discussion.

A number of politicians including Governor Cuomo, Senator Schumer and Mayor Bloomberg have finally started talking about climate change. All of us at Olo hope that our elected officials will continue to prioritize climate change in both word and deed.

Feeling Achy Since Hurricane Sandy or the Nor'easter?

Even if you were fortunate enough not to have suffered the worst of these storm’s consequences you could still have felt their effects internally. Aches and pains in any of your joints could be a reminder of an old injury, or it could indicate start of a new condition that requires immediate attention.

In Eastern medicine, wind, cold and dampness felt in the air can penetrate the body and cause pain.

• Wind causes conditions in the body that are sporadic, moving quickly from place to place, coming and going.
• Cold slows things down and can cause pain.
• Damp refers to accumulations that causes a thickening and congestion of fluids and can also cause pain.

Exposure to these environmental conditions can cause various conditions to arise, chief among them, musculoskeletal pain.

We’ve all heard of the elbow pain that acts up only when it rains, or the arthritis that lets us know in advance that the weather is about to turn. Baroreceptors in our joints sense pressure changes in the climate. In sensitive joints, this can translate into pain.

Tips for Shaking off Wind, Cold & Dampness

1. Exercise just enough to feel your body warm up, but not so much as to cause muscle soreness or fatigue the next day. And of course, keep the impact on achy joints to a minimum.
2. Keep the area warm:
3. Leg warmers for knee pain or an extra shirt for shoulder pain are great ideas
4. Take a hot baths or showers
5. Apply warmth with a hot pack to the sore area. If it’s swollen or red, ask a health care professional first.
6. Eat and drink warm things. Consider adding cayenne or raw garlic to your food or simmering some ginger tea to help heat things up. Cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom are warming too, and can easily be sprinkled on top of drinks or added to meals. Similarly, eliminate cold food and drinks from your diet.
7. Getting acupuncture and an herbal formula now can help kick this achy invasion out before it settles in, avoiding future problems.
8. Stay hydrated. This helps to keep the fluids moving through our muscles and joints.

Did you know..

After hurricane Katrina hit, the rate of heart attacks that came into hospitals rose 1.5%. Stay tuned for more about how to put your health first while focusing on recovery and rebuilding.

Want to learn more?

"Like" our facebook page to find out ways you can donate, and help our community rebuild after Hurricane Sandy!