Strange Ways How the Weather Can Impact Your Health

Lisa Franchi April 12, 2013

Tuning in to the weather forecast may not only help you decide what to wear for the day. It may also keep you posted about some health triggers.

Many studies (Harvard University and Saint Louis University to name a few) suggest that extreme weathers and changing climates affect many areas of our health. This may explain why there’s a phenomenon called ‘winter blues’, autumn is considered the ‘love’ season, people with arthritis feel better when it sunny, weight gain is at its peak on winter, and so on.

So how does weather affect your health?

It makes you sneeze. Many people often blame pollens for their allergy during springtime. But weather could be blamed as well. One condition that is affected by weather is called non-allergic rhinitis which is caused by a sudden change in temperature and humidity. People showing symptoms of allergic reaction but tested negative for all tests on specific allergies are most likely suffering from weather-induced non-allergic rhinitis. And even though the symptoms for allergic and non-allergic rhinitis are the same, they require different treatments. Weather-induced allergy is best treated using nasal spray or decongestants.

It makes you thirsty. Reaching for a bottle of water is probably the last thing you want to do during an icy cold winter morning, but research shows that our body gets dehydrated far easier during the colder seasons. This is because many people tend to replace water with coffee and tea which are both diuretics. Dehydration is a serious health concern as it may lead to poor energy levels, headache, fatigue and many other medical problems. It can also cause your skin to dry. So regardless of the weather, make sure to drink more water.

Your mind gets sharper. In a study by the University of South Wales in Australia, researchers tested the memory of a number of shoppers by asking them to recall 10 unusual impulse-buy items that were previously shown to them. Guess what – participants with the strongest recall of those items were those who were tested on cloudy, rainy days.

It brings you sadness. Heard about seasonal affective disorder? Although it’s rare, scientists say it’s real, even during the warm season. Whilst many people get excited to see the sun coming out, for some, the dry season could mean sadness, or worse, depression. Dr Norman Rosenthal, the author of ‘Winter Blues’ said a person with summer SAD would choose to stay inside, crank up the cooling system, and darken the room because the light is ‘cutting through them like a knife’.

It makes your head ache. A sharp increase in humidity or a sudden drop in temperature is a risk factor for people with migraine. In one study involving 7,000 patients, Harvard researchers found that higher temperature increases the risk of headache that required emergency department evaluation. The best thing to do to beat weather-induced migraine is to seek pre-treatment advice from a doctor to prevent the onset of pain. It may also help to keep a journal of when your headache usually happens and how long. This will help you determine if changes in weather can trigger your migraine.

It fires up your blood pressure. According to Jerome Cohen, professor of internal medicine at Saint Louis University, lower temperatures cause the blood vessels to constrict (vasoconstriction) in an effort to conserve heat by reducing the surface area in which it is lost – a mechanism that results to a slight increase in the blood pressure. This is perhaps the reason why the rate of heart attack rises by 50 per cent during winter. Too much heat can be a problem as well. During sunny weather, heat stroke, which is very lethal, is widespread. And even though people with heart problems are more vulnerable, even those who have healthy cardiovascular health may also suffer from weather-induced heart diseases.

It triggers asthma attack. For some people with asthma, exercising in cold weather may not be a good idea. When breathing at a rapid phase, there’s not enough time for air to warm up, explained David Hagaman, MD, medical director at the Vanderbilt Asthma, Sinus and Allergy Program. The cooling of the airways may lead to swelling, which then triggers asthmatic symptoms.

The effects of weather to our health are undeniable. But by being aware of these subtle changes, we can prepare for the changing seasons and protect ourselves from the potential harm it may bring.