Not Feeling Well? Blame The Weather!

It is nothing new to notice how what is happening outside in the weather can affect how you feel, your mood, or even if you have joint pain or not.  The effect on our bodies from nature doesn’t start and stop with seasonal allergies.  All types of changes in the weather can affect how your body feels.  The change in weather can affect people differently.  Not everyone will have the same reactions to different types of weather changes. 

Barometric Pressure

One of the big weather changes is when a storm front is moving in.  This leads to a change in the Barometric pressure or Atmospheric pressure.  This change in pressure can cause some health issues. 

The change in the Barometric pressure changes the partial pressure of oxygen that we breathe.  This change decreases the oxygen pressure.  When this decrease happens our brains signal an increase of blood flow to the brain, which in the end can trigger a headache or migraine.  When a storm front moves in it can cause you to get a terrible headache or migraine. 

In the same sense when a storm front moves through some people will notice that their joints hurt or swell. 

The change in the Atmospheric pressure can also cause you to have sinus pain or earaches.  There is no way to truly prevent this from happening if you are someone who is sensitive to the Barometric pressure. 

You can make sure you get good rest, stay hydrated, decrease stress and avoid excess alcohol.  If you suffer from joint pain or swelling, finding exercises, or stretches that help alleviate your joint pain can be helpful as well as taking over the counter pain medications to help with pain.  If you have migraine medicine you can also take this to help alleviate migraines due to Barometric pressure. 

Sunlight 

Lack of sunlight can also play a role in your health.  During the winter months when sunlight is less it can be very easy to end up with a Vitamin D deficiency. 

Less sunlight can also affect your mood causing you to have seasonal affective disorder, or seasonal depression. 

Less amounts of sunlight can also wreak havoc on your internal clock.  Causing you to have trouble sleeping or waking up feeling rested. 

Low natural sunlight can also cause you to have low energy. 

Trying to get outside no matter the amount of sun can be helpful to alleviate any of these health issues.  Taking Vitamin D supplements can boost your vitamin levels.  Starting off with bright light in the mornings whether it is natural sun or lights in your home can help your body’s internal clock know that it is time to wake up.  

Cold Weather

Cold weather can cause a lot of different health issues. 

Cold weather can cause your blood vessels to constrict.  This can cause chest pain in people with heart conditions, as well as cause them to be at higher risk of having a heart attack.  Cold weather in general can put more stress on anyone’s cardiovascular system. 

Usually in the winter we think about colds, and the flu.  This is usually when these two things stick around and it is because with the air being so cold and dry, the germs can last longer in the air making them easier to pass from person to person. 

Asthma can also be exasperated in the colder months due to the air being so cold and dry. 

The cold can cause already pre existing skin conditions to worsen as well as make anyone’s skin dry and chapped.  Eczema can become worse in the winter. 

The cold weather can also weaken your hair and nails.  In severe cold weather frostbite and hypothermia can occur. 

Make sure to stay bundled when exposed to the cold, wrapping your face in a scarf to protect your skin from the cold.  Moisturizing your skin can help alleviate any chapped, chafing, or dryness the cold weather can bring.  Running a humidifier in your house can also help. 

Hot Weather

Extreme cold can cause health troubles, but so can extreme heat.  When it is super hot and humid outside you run the risk of heat exhaustion, or heat stroke.  When the air is too humid outside it doesn’t evaporate your sweat quick enough for your body to stay cool.  This can lead to your overheating quickly when it is too humid. 

Extreme heat can also lead to sunburns.  You can get sunburnt at any temperature, but during the summer months the sun is closer making the UV rays stronger, which causes you to burn more easily. 

Extreme heat can also lead to dehydration. 

Just like in the cold asthma can also worsen in extreme heat.  Some people with asthma worsen in high heat and humidity, making it easier for them to trigger an asthma attack. 

Stay hydrated, be in the shade when possible, and not doing too much manual labor in the sun especially on humid days can help prevent some of these. 

Weather & Health

The weather can affect your health in lots of ways.  From the amount of sunlight you get, to the Atmospheric pressure.  Keeping track of your symptoms during these changes in weather can help your doctor notice if there is anything abnormal about your reactions. 

Normally people will see their blood pressure lower in warmer months, with a bit of an increase during the colder months.  If you see a spike of your blood pressure in the middle of summer you will want to contact your doctor to make sure something isn’t truly wrong. 

Keeping track of headaches due to fronts moving in and out can also be good to let your doctor know.  The weather can affect much more than seasonal allergies.

Read More:  How Weather Changes Ruin Our Sleep (And How To Fight It)