Many people who suffer from inflammatory diseases of their connective tissues tend to develop an uncanny ability to predict bad weather. Osteoarthritis and its many related conditions are often cited as the reasons some expats move to Costa Rica, specifically to places such as Atenas and Guanacaste. The relation between joint pain and climate has always been questioned, but a recent study by medical researchers from the Netherlands confirms why good weather is beneficial for arthritis patients.

The town of Atenas, province of Alajuela, boasts a meteorological motto that attracts many visitors and expats: “The Best Climate in the World.” This motto is supported by an average temperature of 22 to 24 degrees Celsius (about 73 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit) and monthly rainfall averages that seldom surpass the 290 mm mark. Similar weather can be found in the province of Guanacaste, especially in beach communities such as Playas del Coco.

Atenas and Guanacaste are examples of the climate conditions often sought by arthritis patients, who can be as young as 40 years old. Once arthritis takes hold, many patients become deeply attuned to changes in the weather. In a region where the weather can change suddenly, arthritis patients rely on their shoulders, elbows and knees to tell them if a sunny morning belies an afternoon rainstorm. It’s almost as if arthritis installs an internal barometer.

There is actually a scientific discipline that studies the relation between atmospheric conditions and health: Human biometeorology. According to a recent Reuters report published by Fox News, Dutch researchers from the Erasmus MC University Medical Center in Rotterdam kept a careful eye on 222 arthritis patients and their reported pain characteristics such as intensity and time of day. This data was then cross-referenced with weather records to confirm what we already know: More than 60 percent of arthritis patients feel stronger pain when barometric conditions fall.

Arthritis pain is not exacerbated by bad weather to the point of rendering patients to stay in bed during an entire winter season, but greater quality of life through less pain can be experienced by moving to Costa Rica. However, since this country is home to a variety of microclimates, it is important for arthritic expats to do some research in this regard. Guanacaste is often a good choice as well as Atenas.