Living with arthritis can be challenging, but these five cities are a recipe for disaster. From the constant pain and limited mobility to weather swap-outs that aren’t ideal, these cities are making it hard for their residents with arthritis. Here are the five worst cities in the U.S. for arthritis sufferers:
1. Memphis, Tennessee
While residents in Memphis might like to see this city on their list of places they’d like to retire, the reality is that living with arthritis symptoms in Memphis can be a nightmare. The hot, humid weather is difficult for those without arthritis and makes things harder for those who do. It’s so bad that the temperature has been known to drop by 20 degrees or more in only a few hours. And while there are hills, they aren’t steep enough to get any good exercise out of them.
2. Atlanta, Georgia
Like Memphis, Atlanta is a challenging place to live with arthritis. Although the weather is warm, the humidity makes it difficult to move comfortably. And like any city in the south, it gets plenty of rain throughout the year. Also, with no fruit or vegetable growing season in Atlanta, there isn’t much of a fruit and vegetable market to get fresh produce. One bright spot is that Atlanta has plenty of movies being shot at any time, which keeps the economy going strong.
3. Dover, Delaware
Delaware is a small state filled with beaches, which can be hard on a person with arthritis. The warm water feels good, but getting to them can be pretty difficult. It’s also very humid in the summer, which can rob the body of moisture.
4. Mobile, Alabama
While Alabama might not seem like one of the worst cities to live in with arthritis, the reality is that it can be. It’s no surprise that Mobile is a swampy city filled with mosquitoes, but others are not so nice. The cold temperatures of winter can make things more difficult for people with arthritis, and the warm weather of summer gives everyone a break from moving around.
5. Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield might seem like it’s in a beautiful part of the country, but since it was founded, Massachusetts has dealt with earthquakes and floods. And while Springfield has earthquake preparedness plans in place, it will still be hard to deal with arthritis symptoms when the next earthquake hits the city.
The above Cities aren’t the only places where people with arthritis sufferers struggle. Living in housing with a lot of stairs can be complex for people with arthritis symptoms. So, when it comes to getting the supplies you need to fight that pain, make sure to do your research before choosing an area to live in. Also, remember that the more time a person spends moving around, the better. If you have to be indoors, try to walk as much as possible. Use the stairs if you can, stay away from elevators, and try to get up off your feet as much as possible.
