Barometric Pressure: Does it Really Affect the Body Like People Say it Does?

We often hear people talk about how the change in weather makes their joints ache, headaches worse, or even affects mood. As a Fibrowarrior, I have always maintained that when a storm is heading my way, if humidity is in the air, or if there’s any other kind of atmospheric disturbance, my fibro pain

and stiffness worsens. More often than not, with rainstorms, I will flare until the storm breaks, then I'm just fine. That mysterious force is barometric pressure—but what exactly is it?

Barometric pressure, also called atmospheric pressure, is the weight of the air pressing down on us from the atmosphere. Even though air feels light, it has mass, and gravity pulls it toward the earth. That creates pressure, just like water pushing on you when you swim under the surface.

This pressure is measured using a tool called a barometer, which is where the name comes from. The higher the pressure, the more “weight” the air is putting on us; the lower the pressure, the lighter that weight becomes.

Barometric pressure is constantly changing because our atmosphere isn’t still—it moves with weather systems. Here’s how it works:

• High Pressure Systems: These usually mean clear skies and calm weather. The air is heavier and pushes down, which makes it harder for clouds to form. High barometric pressure keeps joint fluids from changing, as well as the joints from moving. Because the body is "pressurized" swelling and inflamation decreases.

• Low Pressure Systems: These are linked to storms, rain, and unsettled weather. Air rises, cools, and condenses, leading to cloud formation and precipitation. It’s much easier for clouds to form. This would include, of course, storm clouds.

Low pressure allows tissues, muscles and tendons to expand, which can put pressure on nerves and joints. This can exacerbate pain for some living with chronic pain conditions.

As you go higher in altitude—like climbing a mountain or flying in an airplane—barometric pressure decreases because there’s less atmosphere above you pressing down. That’s why your ears “pop” during takeoff or landing; your body is adjusting to the shift.

Barometric pressure isn’t just a weather geek’s term. It can affect our bodies in noticeable ways. Some people feel joint pain, headaches, or fatigue when pressure drops suddenly, especially before a storm. Others notice changes in their mood or energy. Scientists are still studying exactly why, but it likely has to do with how pressure changes influence circulation, inflammation, and even oxygen levels.

Barometric pressure is the invisible force of air pressing down on us every day. It shapes our weather, influences how we feel, and even affects how we breathe at different altitudes. Next time you hear a storm is coming, remember—it’s not just the rain on its way, it’s a shift in the air’s pressure all around you. And for Fibrowarriors like myself, it could definitely mean, get your arsenal ready because a flare is on the way.

But I will gladly close with this. How you feel, and how your body feels…it’s not your imagination. You’re not crazy, and neither is that person that says a storm is coming and they can feel it in their bones. No one is exaggerating. It’s the barometric pressure changes, not you.

Be well,

Sloan

(Note: Barometric pressure is real; however, because everyone is different, not everyone is affected by barometric pressure changes in the same way. Symptoms can vary, and some may not notice any impact at all.)