13 Best Places To Live With Rheumatoid Arthritis (+ 3 Climates)
Are you suffering from RA and you believe the weather is making it worse? It’s really possible.
But unfortunately, you can’t change the climate. The only thing you can do is to move out – for a little while, at least.
So if you’re thinking about this – where exactly should you go? Which are the best places to live with rheumatoid arthritis?
You will find the answers below.
What You Will Find In This Article
I would divide my recommendations in 3 chapters:
A. Best 5 Places In The US
1. Arizona
The best thing about Arizona is that it has constant temperatures during the whole year.
Compared to other states, the winter in Arizona is pretty similar to the summer.
The good news is that it’s not just one or 2 cities – it’s the whole state.
So you can choose any place from Arizona: Tucson, Phoenix or even Yuma – which is the #1 sunniest city from America.
Now – how does this weather help arthritis?. Here’s the thing:
- heat prevents joints stiffness
- sun rays increase the production of vitamin D
- dry air prevents flare-ups
In my opinion, Arizona is the best place in America if you have arthritis.
2. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Compared to Arizona, Minnesota seems exactly the opposite – it’s much colder.
But even so, it’s one of the best places to live with arthritis – especially its largest city, Minneapolis.
How’s that? Here are the main reasons:
- lots of rheumatology institutions, including the Mayo Clinc
- very fresh air
- little humidity – which prevents flare-ups
- life is very cheap in general
So if you want to be close to a specialist or rheumatology clinic – Minneapolis is probably the best place.
3. Maryland, Baltimore
Just like Minnesota, the climate from Baltimore isn’t the best one. However, its institutions are.
So there’s 2 main reasons why you should live in Maryland:
- the John Hopkins Hospital
- highest number of rheumatology institutions (even higher than Minnesota)
As I said, the climate is pretty harsh in Maryland – especially in the winter.
But even so – you can live in any part of Baltimore. The clinics are still pretty close.
Now – this isn’t my personal recommendation, just because of the weather.
But if you need to be close to a rheumatology institution, Baltimore is probably the best choice – together with Minnesota.
4. California
This state is just perfect for someone with rheumatoid arthritis. How’s that?:
- constant temperatures during the year (just like in Arizona)
- dry weather
- pretty hot – all year long
The only problem with the Californian weather is humidity.
As it’s close to the ocean, there’s a lot of humidity in most cities – which can increase arthritis flare-ups.
But if you move out in the eastern part – things should be better.
Another problem is that life tends to be pretty expensive here.
So I would personally choose Arizona instead – it has some more advantages. But California remains a pretty good place for arthritis.
5. Salt Lake City
The capital of Utah is another great city if you have RA. Compared to the previous places – it doesn’t have the same advantages:
- no hot weather or dry climate
- not so many institutions
Instead, it compensates by 3 things:
- fresh air
- the lowest smoking rate from the US
- according to studies, one of the most relaxing places in the country
In case you didn’t know – smoke is really bad for RA, because it increases inflammation.
The bad part is that you don’t have to smoke yourself – only ingesting smoke is enough to increase your pain.
For this reason, the air from Salt Lake City could help you a lot – on the long term.
B. Best 8 Places Outside The US
1. Nigeria
This African country had everything – beautiful landscapes, nice people and most importantly: a great climate.
Here’s why it makes a great place to live – for people with RA:
- really hot during the whole year – no winter
- dry air and very little humidity
- the lowest rate of smoking in the world
What else could you wish for?
The only downside is that Nigeria isn’t a very modern country – compared to the US. So you won’t find as many clinics and specialized hospitals.
But if your RA doesn’t require professional care for now – Nigeria is the perfect place to move in. Even for a little while.
2. Spain
Spain is one of the top holiday destinations in the world. So living in such a paradise would be a dream.
But surprisingly – the life from Spain seems to suit arthritis. Here’s why I’m saying this:
- it’s pretty hot most of the time
- even the winters are pretty gentle
- life in general is very relaxing (little stress)
- the eating habits are perfect for RA (Mediterranean diet)
Now – people living there eat a lot of fish, vegetables and olive oil.
All of these foods are great for arthritis in general – because they decrease inflammation. Besides, Spanish people don’t eat a lot of processed food.
So that’s the #1 reason why Spain is the perfect place to live with arthritis – it keeps you away from fast foods and processed foods.
3. Japan
This country is famous for its healthy lifestyle – they were the ones that invented Yoga.
But other than that – why is Japan good for RA?
After all, it doesn’t have a very warm climate. There’s a lot of humidity there, which can be very harmful for arthritis.
Basically – there’s one reason why I recommend living in Japan:
- hot springs
This country is also known for its thermal water – which are great for stiff joints.
So even though I don’t recommend moving in Japan permanently (it’s totally different from Europe and US) – a little vacation there would surely help your joints.
4. Adelaide, Australia
If you’ve never been to Australia – I say you give it a try. Life here seems somehow perfect – especially for someone with arthritis.
So why is Adelaide a great place for RA? I would say it’s an Australian version of Arizona:
- very hot weather during the whole year
- constant temperatures
- dry air and very little humidity
Besides, the rate of smoking is pretty low in Australia – compared to other countries.
That makes it one of the perfect places to live with RA. So if you haven’t visited it yet, you should really change that.
5. Portugal
This country is a real European paradise – and it has everything an RA sufferer could need:
- warm weather – not too hot, not too cold either
- very little smoke
- life is very cheap in general
- relaxed people
In fact, it’s considered one of the less stressful places in Europe. And compared to Spain, it’s way cheaper.
However, it also has some downsides:
- higher level of humidity
- not so many specialized institutions
But if you can stand these problems, life in Portugal will surely benefit your RA.
6. Turkey
Here’s another European country where you would surely love to live – in terms of arthritis.
So what makes Turkey so special? It’s probably 2 things:
- pleasant weather
- large number of clinics
Unlike Portugal, Turkey has a lot of institutions for all kinds of conditions – including arthritis.
So if you need to be supervised by a medical, you would probably like Turkey more.
However, it has the same problem as Portugal – it’s close to the sea, so the level of humidity is pretty high.
7. Sydney, Australia
Just like its neighbor Adelaide, Sydney seems the perfect place to live with arthritis:
- it has a really warm climate
- 95% of the days are sunny
- there isn’t a lot of humidity
But compared to Adelaide – Sydney is much better for walking. The city is created in such a manner that you don’t have to drive everywhere – so most people prefer walking.
Now – you probably know the benefits of movement in arthritis.
So if you’re looking for a place where you can walk instead of driving – Sydney is probably the best choice.
8. France
Last on this list is the most visited country in the world – France.
Now – every regular person would probably like to live there. But what makes it suitable for someone with rheumatoid arthritis?
- Gentle climate (the humidity depends on the area)
- Life is very relaxed there
- Camembert cheese – is said to relieve arthritis pain
So if you’re a fan of diary and cheese – France is the best place for you.
Especially because their special cheese contains a high level of vitamin K – which is considered a mild anti-inflammatory.
So you should really visit France – at least for a week. The benefits could be really worth it.
Best 3 Climates For Rheumatoid Arthritis
1. Mediterranean Climate
This is the type of weather you can find in the South of Europe and Florida. What makes it so special:
- Gentle weather all year long
- Very hot summers and rainy winters
- Average humidity (depending on the area)
- One of the best diets for arthritis
Now – this climate can improve RA, but it’s not a major factor. I’m saying this because the humidity gets higher in the winter.
However, compared to other types of climate – the Mediterranean one is much suitable for arthritis.
Besides, the diet is just perfect – it keeps you away from processed meals and promotes fresh, homemade foods.
2. Desert Climate
On paper, this is probably the best kind of weather for RA. Now – I don’t mean the climate from the Sahara.
Arizona has a desert-like weather – and as I said, to me it’s the best US state for arthritis.
So here’s why a desert climate helps:
- very little humidity – which keeps away joint pressure and flare-ups
- constant temperatures all year long
- always sunny and hot
As I told you in the beginning – heat is perfect for arthritis, because it helps joints stiffness.
Besides, this climate has no humidity – which is another advantage.
So if you really want to move out just for the sake of improving your RA – I would choose a desert climate. Something like Arizona or Nevada.
3. Continental Climate
This is the type of weather from most US and Europe states. It’s actually the regular weather:
- 4 different seasons
- fluctuating temperatures throughout the year
Now – this climate doesn’t help arthritis in any form. But it doesn’t worsen it either.
So it’s not the best weather for RA, but it’s not the worst. You get my point?
Among all types of climates – the continental one is on top for 1 reason: it doesn’t worsen arthritis (like humid climates do).
Therefore – if you’re planning to move to a different climate, I wouldn’t recommend you this one. Better choose one of these 2 instead:
- Mediterranean
- Desert
On the other hand, if you already live in a continental climate – it’s totally fine. There’s no need to move just for the sake of your RA. This weather is good enough for your condition.
My Verdict – What’s The Best Place To Live With RA?
Short answer: Probably Arizona – at least in my opinion. Either way, you should choose a place with 3 major things:
- very little humidity
- constant temperatures throughout the year
- warm to hot climate
In my opinion, somewhere around Arizona or Nevada is the best place within the US.
If you’re from Australia – my #1 recommendation is Sydney.
As for Europe, somewhere in the south – Spain or Portugal are great.
Now – there are some other secondary things you should consider:
- how expensive life is in that place
- the hospitals or specialized clinics around
Once you select what exactly you need – you can start looking for the right location.
And I personally believe that these 13 places are enough to help you decide.
Heather, I was looking at this for my dad. I guess I never thought about RA as being an “excuse” to travel. He already lives in France but as you say yourself, the humidity depends on the area. So going to a different part in France, to Spain or Portugal would most likely be the easiest choices for him. I had never heard that Camembert is said to relieve arthritis pain. I thought all dairy products were bad for arthritis. I was wrong?
Have you personally been to all of these places? That could make for interesting follow-up posts to write about them from your personal experience… 🙂
Hey Traci.
France, Spain and Portugal all have a similar climate – and I agree, it should be suitable for your dad’s arthritis.
I would advise him to avoid cities that are close to the sea and choose the hotter ones (like in the central part of Spain or France). Here he should be totally fine.
Regarding your question – Camembert cheese doesn’t really “relieve” the pain, but it contains high amounts of vitamin K. This vitamin is said to decrease inflammatory molecules on the long term.
So neither Camembert cheese nor vitamin K alone can relieve the pain considerably. But they can help – and I’m thinking more about preventing extra flare ups and so on.
Unfortunately, no food can decrease arthritis pain alone – there are some that can really help, but they don’t reduce it completely.
There’s something else you asked me, and here’s my answer: diary products aren’t bad for arthritis.
Some sources say they are, because they cause inflammation. But studies couldn’t prove that. And I’m a fan of dairy and I didn’t seem to feel worse after consuming them.
But as for Camembert cheese – it’s surely a lot better than any regular dairy.
Great website if you suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). I agree with you that here in the US, Arizona with its dry climate, is the best for RA. I live in Virginia and can attest that the cold winter and the humidity is bad for my RA. Thank you for the informative places to move to here in the US. The international places you recommend are also great places to visit on vacation too. One can get temporary relief of their inflammation if they can’t relocate. I will get some Tumeric supplements to help as well. Again, thank you, as your webpage has helped me deal with my RA.
Hi Mick, it’s great to hear this.
I agree that one can’t just move to Arizona out of the sudden, just because he had arthritis. The purpose of this post was rather informative, so I wouldn’t move out just because of RA either.
But sure, you can use these places as holiday destinations. I haven’t visited all of them, but I might in the future.
Thanks for your kind words. If you need some recommendations on turmeric products, these ones are the best I tried.
I live in Nevada, US. It’s a desert climate so there’s very little rain and humidity throughout the year. And yeah, the heat is sometimes really hard to bear. I think this is a right place for RA, considering your list. Not that I would move away just for that haha.
Hi James, yeah – it’s actually one of the best places from US to live with rheumatoid arthritis. I didn’t mention it because it’s very similar to Arizona – there’s basically the same climate.
So there’s no reason why you should move out from Nevada too soon – not that you would 😉
hi Heather,
sorry to read about your condition. I really liked that you mentioned different types of climates, I don’t suffer from rheumatoid arthritis but my joints do hurt during the winter season and I wanted to find some destination options that may help with the pain.
Do you have any suggestions about places in the Middle East or India as these are 2 places I frequent?
Hey Tarun, I would suggest the same type of climate as for RA – dry, with little rain and humidity, very hot and possible somewhere in the countryside. I know eastern cities to be very crowded and polluted, so fresh air would do you a lot more good.
I’m not very familiar with the places you mentioned, so I can’t give you any personal recommendations since I’ve never been there. I know that part to have enough humidity (I think you have a rainy season there), which isn’t really the best thing ever.
Maybe going somewhere in the mountains would be better. If it’s super cold, you can use these hacks to heat up your painful joints. So the pain should stay lower. Hope this helps.
How cool, I never realised just how much RA is affected by the climate and weather. I have a few friends who have rheumatoid arthritis, some young, some not so young.
I knew one friend often gets a flare up if the weather gets too cold, but I didn’t realise just how sensitive the joints are to the weather. This helps me understand better.
I live in Australia and I can see why you didn’t mention Brisbane, as we get so much humidity in the summer, I imagine this would wreak havoc on my friend with RA. Thanks for this great tips.
Hey Kat, I’m glad to hear you found some useful info.
Yeah, Brisbane is close to the ocean if I’m not wrong – so there’s a lot more humidity there than in other parts of Australia (like Adelaide).
I don’t know if your friend lives there too, but if he/she does – that’s probably the reason behind those often flare ups.
(But it also depends on the condition itself – I get often flare ups too and I live in a very dry place, so it’s not because of the weather).
Anyway, weather has a big influence on arthritis – especially on auto-immune forms. So it’s important to choose a dry location, if possible.
What do you think about South Africa? I live there and I don’t have many of a flare-ups (I have psoriatic not rheumatoid arthritis). It’s dry and sunny most of the year, which you say to be important things for the benefit of arthritis. I think my country it suitable for this condition.
Hey Alen, I kind of agree with you. I think the climate there is similar to the one in Nigeria (which is on my list), but it’s not that hot and dry – right? I’ve seen South Africa is close to the ocean, but there are probably dry areas in the northern part.
But yeah, overall I think it’s a suitable place for arthritis – whether it’s psoriatic or rheumatoid (they are very similar in terms of what causes them).
However, climate alone isn’t going to change your condition a lot. I mean, cold weather can worsen it – but if you’ve always lived in a warm climate, this weather isn’t going to keep your arthritis from worsening in time. Do you get the point?
So choosing a right climate can help, but it’s not a decisive factor.
Thanks for your recommendations. I heard many people recommending Arizona for arthritis, because it’s one of the hottest states in our country. But who would have thought a cold climate like Minneapolis is a good place. Your information about supplements is also helpful. I know a close friend of mine always talk about the benefits of turmeric for her joint pain, so it’s not a hype.
My friend lives in Canada, so the climate isn’t the best one for her (it’s warm in the summer but very cold in the winter where she lives). But she can’t move out just because of her joint issues. Do you think there’s something else that might help her, besides the supplements she’s already taking?
Alternative treatments, physical therapy, etc.
Hi Vanna, the climate from Canada is probably not the best one for arthritis – but I agree with you, you can’t just move out to a new country just because it has a better weather.
I mean, the influence of climate isn’t that big. It exists, but it’s not a major thing.
Regarding your question:
1. First of all, she should continue to use turmeric (whether as supplements, tea, powder or anything that helps her). I mostly recommend supplements for joint pain, because they’re more concentrated – which is important for arthritis. Here’s a list of my top recommendations.
2. She could also try applying heat in the morning, or whenever she feels her joints getting very stiff (after getting up, after exercising).
3. Diet could also help her – though it’s not going to make big changes alone. Here’s a list of the best foods for arthritis.
4. Exercising can also be effective, but I recommend it more for relieving stress. In my case, yoga didn’t improve my condition too much.
Hope this helps.
I live in the southern of Europe (Greece) and I have both my parents with arthritis. But I don’t think it’s rheumatoid because they don’t have swollen joints, just painful. But their pain becomes more bad when it rains (we have little rain here, but when it rains it’s usually a lot). Do you think it’s the weather that makes the pain get so bad? Or it’s just coincidence?
Hey Vitalis, it’s almost 100% the rainy weather making their pain get worse.
It doesn’t matter whether they have rheumatoid or osteoarthritis in this case – humidity affects both. So it’s not a coincidence, it’s something normal.
They can apply ice if the pain gets really worse or use an NSAID (I don’t normally recommend it, but every once in a while is totally fine). Also, if their joints get really stiff and hard to move, hot bottles could do the trick and improve this symptom easily.
The good news is that you have rare periods with rain. And from what I know, Greece has a mediaterranean climate, which means it’s mostly warm and sunny. So that’s a great place for your parents, regarding their OA.
Greetings from Spain! I was happy to see my country in your best places for RA list. My wife has rheumatoid arthritis for many years ago, when I met her she had the disease so it was back since she was a teenager. But she doesn’t have any big problems with it, most of the time she is like all of us, no pain. She’s from Spain and has never lived anywhere else.
I think she got used with this climate, but one time we went in a vacation to Noway (in the north of Europe) and she was like a different person.
She stayed the whole day in the house near the fire. When she went somewhere away, her hands started to fasten and become very rigid (and painful she says). It was the first time we went in a mountain resort, but it was the last time. I almost wanted to leave right then, but it was her who insisted that we stayed (for my sake I think).
Fortunately the vacation was just a few days, so when we came back to our sunny Valencia she seemed normal again. I first believed it was just a coincidence that she had that crisis while in vacation. But then I realized it was all about the weather and the cold.
So in Spain, she never had that hardened hands and she moved normally, just like before.
Thank you for including our country on your list, but I say it from what I have seen. Warm weather and climates are much better for rheumatoid arthritis than cold weather. The difference is much bigger than you think. Thank you for listening.
Hi Jose, thanks a lot for sharing your experience.
I’ve never been to Spain but I know the climate is similar to the one from California – not a desert one (as in Arizona), but still pretty warm all year long, even in winters. So it seems really suitable for someone with RA.
I was definitely surprised by your wife’s experience with Noway climate. It makes sense, but it’s still surprising. Not everyone feels such a big difference, but considering she’s been living in Spain all her life – I can understand.
Well, the only suggestion I have for her is to continue living in Spain (not that she would plan to move out, I’m sure). As for you, next time – take care what holiday destination you choose. But I’m so sure that experience taught you enough – so you’re probably only taking her in hotter places than Spain.
Thanks for your greetings and I hope to visit Spain one day, so I can tell the difference myself.
Hi Heather, what do you think about tropical climate? I live in the UK but my family is from Congo and have been considering the option to go back to my home country in the future. But I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis last year and I’ve been researching everything about this condition since then.
I’m 38 y.o and I’m a male (I know it’s more common in women after 50). My symptoms are nothing scary at the moment, with pain that comes and goes weekly, but it’s not constant. I also don’t have any deformities and will do my best to stay away from that.
I know UK doesn’t have the best climate for RA either, but I live in the central area, which isn’t close to the sea so the humidity is not as big. But I know the climate from Congo is more humid, with rain almost every day (even more than in UK). The weather from UK doesn’t bother me, even when it rains I feel no negative change.
But if I want to move back to Congo, I’m afraid I won’t be able to control my symptoms anymore, because of that so much rain. Also, I’m not sure if they have so many treatment options for RA, but my family could find me a good doctor even before I arrive there.
Maybe you can give me some useful advice. Do you think a turmeric supplement would help me for prevention? Also, if I start using it here and then go to Congo, could it somehow protect me? Maybe it sounds as a silly question, but for me it’s quite logical. I hope you can help me.
Hello Mohammed. First of all, a tropical climate isn’t a really good one for any type of arthritis – whether it’s RA or OA. But people with RA tend to be more affected by climate changes.
Now – I think tropical climate isn’t that good because, as you said, there’s a lot of rain. Also, there’s a lot of humidity – a lot more than in any part of the UK.
But you said your RA is quite mild at this point.
So here’s what I advise you. Pay a visit to your family in Congo and try to stay there for at least 1 week. During this time, you should see if your symptoms get different.
According to that, you can take a decision. I think that’s the best thing you can do right now. Tropical climate may not be the best one for RA, but maybe your body tolerates it better, who knows? You only need to try…
As for the treatment options, I’m sure they have great doctors in Congo as well. So I wouldn’t worry too much about that.
Regarding your question – in your case, turmeric could be really helpful. I’m not sure about that protection part – but it can keep your joint inflammation to a minimum. So in this case, it could “protect” you from the humidity from Congo.
But I can’t tell for sure, you have to try it yourself.
The supplement I recommend you is Turmeric Plus, because it works really well but it’s cheaper than most. So that’s a major plus for me. But in case you need some more options, there are several RA supplements that I really like. So you will surely find the right one there (for your budget).
One more thing – start taking the supplement at least 1 month before you go to Congo. They usually need at least a few weeks to work, even more. So that would be much safer for you.
Hope this helps.
If you visit Congo, please let me know how you felt and how your symptoms were.
I live in Ontario Canda and living here with RA is real bad! Don’t recommend it! I used to have flareups every now and then in my youth, but now my pain has gotten so worse that some days I can’t get out of bed.
And I blame the climate changes for that – every time there’s a storm coming by, I can feel it long before. My pain goes to a high. Guess it’s the pressure changes you mentioned.
When I retire, I plan to move somewhere close to the Mexican border, what do you think of that part? I think the weather is similar to Arizona, maybe not such massive heat
Hi Will, Ontario doesn’t sound like one of the best places to live with RA.
I know it’s close to the lakes, so there must be a lot of humidity all year long. Also, from what I know – it’s quite a rainy area, so that explains why your flare-ups are so often now.
The southern part of the country sounds much better – whether it’s New Mexico, Texas, Arizona or California. These 4 have the best climate from the entire US, if you ask me. (I’m speaking in terms of arthritis).
However, life in California is expensive and noisy – so you probably don’t want that.
Out of the 3 left, you can pick any. Just make sure to chose a place that isn’t close to the ocean or mountains:
– water usually causes more humidity
– high altitude lowers barometric pressure (which is similar to that feeling you have before storms)
Hope you choose the best city for your RA. Thanks for letting me know your opinion.
Hello Heather. Me and my wife are both suffering from joint pain and arthritis (she has RA since her 30s, I recently developed some osteoarthritis in my right knee and hip, with little cartilage left, it’s almost bone to bone). Well, I plan to retire this year so we considered moving to another location.
Right now we live in Baltimore, which is on your list of best places to live with RA. Well, I don’t 100% agree; it’s true we are close to hospitals and care centers, but that’s not a priority for us. We can both keep our condition under control, so we don’t visit our doctors more than once a month.
Well, what we don’t like about Baltimore is cold. We visited our son in Florida and we were both surprised how well we felt there, regarding our pain and stiffness. We have both lived in Baltimore our entire life, so we never believed weather and climate could make such a big difference in arthritis.
Once we got back home, all the usual symptoms came be instantly. That’s what makes me think the climate from Baltimore isn’t that proper. The hospitals can be an advantage for some, but not for us. We need a place that’s warm all year long.
I’ve been looking through your list and wanted to ask you if you would also include Florida. I can see about Arizona and California, which are pretty similar as weather. So if Florida is also a good place to live with arthritis, we’re seriously considering moving there, as our son lives nearby (Tampa).
Please advise me on that.
Hello Roger, I would surely include Florida among the best places to live with arthritis. As you said, the climate is very similar to the one form California (but not as hot as in Arizona, which can be an advantage).
Tampa is also close to the Ocean, so you could also enjoy the water. The only downside is that it’s a humid area – which can worsen your pain during storms and rainy days. But overall, I think it’s better than Baltimore, that only has hospitals and that’s it.
So I really advise you to move out to Florida, especially if you could feel such a big change in your pain. As you have your son close, you shouldn’t have a hard time getting used to living there.
Hello. I have RA and it’s been bothering me so much lately that I decided to move out for a few months. My husband works in several area of the country throughout the year (he’s a civil engineer), so I can go with him.
Right now I’m in New York, which doesn’t seem to be the best climate for arthritis. Here it’s really cold in the winter and it’s quite humid in most days. So you’re saying that humidity is no good for arthritis, right? That’s what I knew too and I agree.
My husband is going up next to Nevada, close to Las Vegas. It might not be the best air for me, but I think it’s good as a climate, right? It’s in the desert and it’s close to Arizona, which is your top pick. Do you think living there for a while would help improve my RA?
I would also like to try some herbal/natural pills, I’ve seen that you’re good at that so maybe you can recommend me something (I know it’s probably written in big letters somewhere, but I don’t really have time to look right now, really sorry).
Hi Lou. New York is indeed not the best place to live with rheumatoid arthritis – despite the large numbers of centers and hospitals you have close to you. That’s the only advantage I could find. But it’s also a pretty humid place, as any close to the sea/ocean.
Nevada sounds great, compared to that. It’s really hot (so your stiffness should stay lower) and there’s very little humidity. Also, rain is pretty rare here – so you shouldn’t have as many flare-ups as usual.
I don’t know how long you will be staying in Nevada – but your RA should get better while there. However, I doubt it’s going to help on the long term.
When you come back (or switch to a colder climate), your condition will come back as strong as before. That’s what I think.
So it’s just a temporary solution – not a long term one.
But there is a long term one – supplements. They treat the inflammation from the inside – so it’s kept under control on the long term. In this way, your RA symptoms (especially the pain) could decrease a lot in time.
The only downside with supplements is that they don’t work instantly. However, some work within weeks – which doesn’t seem that long.
Turmeric Plus is my #1 recommendation for RA – because it’s the cheapest supplements that works really well. However, there are some other products that work as well. So in case you need some more alternatives, you can choose from these best 5 products.
Other than that – you can also:
1. Try Apple Cider Vinegar because it can also help, even a bit. Combining it with honey is even better.
2. Acupuncture and other alternative treatments can be useful (but only try the ones you’re comfortable with).
3. Krill oil also has certain benefits for arthritis. You can’t find it as easily as fish oil, but in my opinion – it’s better.
4. Try to avoid certain foods – like fries, fast-foods or even nightshade vegetables. Instead, go for everything that is fresh and herbal based.
These tips aren’t miraculous, but they can add up. So if you combine them with the climate changes and a good turmeric supplement, you should really be able to keep your RA under control.
I really hope this helps. In case you need any additional advice, please let me know.
Hi thanks for this extremely useful guide Heather; I have rheumatoid arthritis and live in Europe, I enjoy a temperate continental transition climate specific to central Europe with four distinct seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter. Local climatic differences are due more to the altitude and latitude, and much less to the oceanic influences in the West, to the Southwestern Mediterranean and to the Eastern continents; Do you think it’s a good place to live with RA? Antalya seemed to me a good place: although it is at sea, but the air is dry
Hello Carmen. I know the weather in Europe is totally different in its 4 corners, just like it is in the US. So I can’t give you a clear answer.
But regarding Antalya, you can see that Turkey is on my list. It’s great news to hear that the air is dry there. From what I knew, there was enough humidity, due to its location close to the sea. But you probably know better, since you’ve been there.
So yes, I think Antalya is one of the best places to live with RA from Europe – together with southern countries and mild/mediterranean climates.
Hope this helps.
Hello Heather,
Reading your reviews here on best places to live if you have RA. Any thoughts on Colorado?
Hi Debbie, I actually consider Colorado a great place to live in with RA. It’s pretty similar to Arizona, in my opinion: very little humidity, constant temperatures and barometric pressure is rarely very low.
So this kind of climate should be good for your joints. Sure enough, it’s not enough to cure your RA – but you surely can’t blame this climate for any flare-ups that you have.
I think it’s great to live there both with OA and RA. Hope this helps.
Hi, I live in Minnesota, 12 miles from Minneapolis. Because heat affects my RA more than cold does, I struggle here in the summertime. Most people don’t think of heat when they think of Minnesota, but it can get very humid (it is the land of 10,00 lakes) and hot. Spring here is by far my worst season. The dampness from the rain and fog cause SO much pain. Mayo Clinic is awesome, but it is in the farthest northeast corner of the state. For me, it is a 90 minute drive. While it is a beautiful ride in the summer and fall, there’s a good chance one wouldn’t get there in the winter. My son lives in southern California between LA and San Diego, only a few miles from the coast. There has been no humidity there when we have visited–the most was in January. We were there in March, May, and July as well.
Hi Becky, thanks a lot for sharing your experience with living with RA, it’s really helpful. I consider Minnesota a good place to live with RA mostly because of the high number of clinics, fresh air and pretty cheap lifestyle (compared to other parts of US). But you’re totally right, humidity is a serious problem in most parts of the north. On the other hand, the southern part of US has a much milder climate for arthritis, since it’s a lot hotter overall. But when it comes to California, life is a lot more expensive, as far as I know. So if you ever plan to move out, I’m sure you’re going to pick a southern state, considering your experience with the climates there. Thanks for reading my article!
Thank you so much for this valuable information. I agree with the weather and tumeric for my RA, as I also have OA and DJD in my spine to go along with the RA. My question is what do you think about Hawaii for relocation? Would the humidity and surrounded by ocean be a detriment to my RA and flares? Also, are there any clinics or decent medical care for RA on any of the islands, because I do depend on RA medications and medical follow up and treatment. Thank you for your article, I found it very helpful.
Hi Mae, things are a bit complicated with Hawaii. The great part is that climate is very warm and pleasant, with constant temperatures and little changes in weather (at least not as often as on the continent). On the other hand, the islands are surrounded by the ocean all around, so there is enough humidity, which can worsen flare-ups. Also, arthritis clinics are not the strongest point of Hawaii – at least not specialized ones. For this reason, it’s hard to give you an opinion, since I’ve never been there.
But here’s my advice. If you think about moving there, try visiting it in different months for at least 5-7 days. In this way, you will see how the climate behaves in different periods and whether your arthritis worsens, stays constant or improves. That’s actually the key. Hope this helps.