Many people complain of discomfort when severe temperature changes occur due to the weather. About a third of all Germans struggle with environmental influences and climatic conditions. Weather sensitivity is the name for diseases and complaints caused by strong temperature fluctuations and corresponding climatic conditions.
What is weather sensitivity?
Weather sensitivity is sometimes manifested by physical complaints such as headaches, joint pain and aching limbs. Circulation fluctuates and blood pressure changes significantly. In principle, these are adaptation difficulties of the respective person after a change in weather. The body can only slowly get used to the changed weather conditions. The resulting complaints are of different nature. Headaches and head pressure, migraine attacks, sleep disturbances, joint and muscle pain as well as an irritable or depressed mood occur. There is no direct disease underlying the symptoms. Weather sensitivity is not to be confused with sensitivity to the weather. In this predisposition, in turn, the affected person has a chronic illness. Symptoms worsen up to two days before a weather change and improve again two to three days after the changed weather conditions. Here, symptoms may occur that are also typical of weather sensitivity.
Causes
The causes of the sometimes painful reaction to changing climatic conditions can be caused by various weather conditions. These include all extreme weather conditions with increased humidity. This is muggy warm air in summer and spring and wet cold conditions in autumn and winter. The decisive factor here is the high degree of humidity. On the other hand, extreme heat of more than thirty degrees or severe cold below zero degrees do not necessarily lead to complaints if the humidity is low. On the one hand, individual genetic predispositions and individual underlying diseases are among the reasons for weather sensitivity. In addition, the fact that many people work in air-conditioned rooms is not insignificant. A rapid natural adaptation to the weather stimuli is thus not possible at all. It has been proven that people who spend the whole day in the fresh air, such as construction workers, gardeners, forest workers, street sweepers or people with similar occupations react much less violently to weather changes.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
The signs of weather sensitivity vary. Most often, patients are affected who have underlying diseases elsewhere. These include, in particular, rheumatism patients and heart patients. They suffer when the weather changes. A drop in temperature or rain is the trigger. Young people are affected much less frequently than older people. Signs occur predominantly in seniors. The most common symptoms affect the head. Patients usually complain of headaches and migraines. In addition, concentration disorders occur. Dizziness is also possible. The psyche suffers. Men and women are listless and depressed. Life seems monotonous and gray. Even small irregularities cause irritation. The effects also become apparent at night: sufferers are unable to fall asleep, which exacerbates the condition the following day. Circulatory problems are then possible. In addition, physical symptoms also occur: Individual limbs such as the legs ache. Sometimes patients report that bones and scars that have long since healed hurt. The degree of sensitivity varies. Some individuals suffer for only one to three days. For others, the condition lasts as long as the new weather prevails. If one travels to a region with different climatic conditions, the discomfort regularly disappears.
Diagnosis and course
Cool rain showers alternate with warm and sultry temperatures in a very short time. Many people react to these different climatic conditions with headaches and aching limbs, circulation that goes crazy or similar complaints. Our nervous system and brain thus react directly to the environmental influences. Humidity in particular causes problems for the human body. The mood changes, the nerves are on edge and the whole quality of life can be diminished. The symptoms of weather sensitivity appear between 24 and 48 hours before a change in the weather. The affected person “feels” the upcoming weather and reacts accordingly.This can show up in foehn headaches in cold air or foehn weather, angina in persistent bad weather or Atlantic cold air, altered blood pressure in warm and humid weather as well as high reaching cold air, cardiovascular complaints in the center of a low pressure area, cramps or colic in Atlantic cold air, irritability, aggression and concentration problems in cold air as well as foehn. Joint pain and rheumatism as well as old bone fractures become noticeable in wet and cold bad weather. Sleep disturbances often show up in windy weather or when there is a general change in the large-scale weather situation.
Complications
Pronounced weather sensitivity can cause various physical and psychological complaints. Typical of weather sensitivity are sleep disturbances and mood swings – symptoms that have a negative effect on well-being when the weather changes frequently or particularly intensely, and sometimes have permanent consequences. Existing rheumatic diseases and joint disorders often intensify in the event of a sudden change in weather and then cause severe pain, which often persists for several days. Serious complications can occur if the affected person suddenly experiences dizziness and falls. Cramps, difficulty concentrating and sudden headaches also increase the risk of accidents in everyday life and at work. Individuals with weather sensitivity sometimes develop mental distress as well. Depressive moods may occur, as well as pronounced depression and anxiety disorders. The treatment of weather sensitivity is carried out through natural measures and therefore does not involve major risks. However, certain applications such as acupuncture or remedies from homeopathy can cause discomfort. For example, acupuncture can cause infection and, rarely, injury to larger blood vessels. Natural remedies can cause headaches and gastrointestinal discomfort if used incorrectly, and occasionally serious allergic reactions occur.
When should you see a doctor?
Normally, a doctor is not needed for weather sensitivity. It is a temporary phenomenon for which no further action is required. In addition, it is not a disease in its own right for which medical action should be taken. There is no therapeutic option for the sensations. Rather, the causes of the perceptions must be considered. Weather sensitivity is seen in many people who have suffered from various illnesses in the past and still experience after-effects. The affected person should develop a way of dealing with the emerging irregularities that is helpful to them. Each person finds different strategies for coping with the sensations. A doctor should only be consulted if there are other health problems in addition to the weather sensitivity. In very rare cases, other factors may be present that should be further investigated or observed by a physician. If, despite all efforts, no relief of the symptoms is experienced, it should be checked whether a therapeutic treatment measure should be taken. A doctor is therefore needed if long-term suffering is experienced, the quality of life is permanently reduced, and no coping mechanisms are apparent on the patient’s own initiative that would lead to a perceived improvement in the situation. In addition, regular check-ups with a physician are recommended.
Treatment and therapy
A healthy diet, drinking plenty of fluids, exercise in the fresh air, regular visits to the sauna, Kneipp treatments, or outdoor sports are means that help prevent weather sensitivity. These measures can be very helpful, the immune system is trained, strengthened and the body practices adaptation to the changing climatic conditions. If the pain becomes noticeable in spite of everything, numerous home remedies are available. Alternating baths with rosemary oil or alternating showers help against flabbiness. Drinking plenty of fluids is essential, and fruit, vegetables and healthy foods should be part of the diet. People who are sensitive to the weather should avoid stimulants for the most part. Alcohol, nicotine and coffee are often contributory causes of headaches and can aggravate the symptoms. A regular daily routine is important; going to bed, getting up and meals should be taken at the same time if possible. If the impairment caused by weather sensitivity is too severe and affects daily life, a doctor should be consulted in any case.Homeopathic remedies or acupuncture are helpful applications. Studies have shown that this Chinese healing art can reduce discomfort.
Prevention
If you want to prevent weather sensitivity, exercise regularly in the fresh air. Walking, hiking, jogging, outdoor gymnastic exercises and cycling are all options that can be accommodated in everyday life. In addition to exercise, there are recommendations not to dress too thickly, but also not to freeze while exercising. Clothing should always be adapted to the weather of the season. Sufficient sleep and plenty of vegetables and fruit in the diet can help control weather sensitivity. Aftercare for weather sensitivity is not useful and ultimately not possible. In the case of complaints caused by changes in the weather, only preventive care would be helpful. However, even here the possibilities are limited. The weather cannot be predicted with absolute certainty, and long-term consistent weather patterns are also rare. Consequently, if there is a tendency to weather sensitivity, neither precautionary nor preventive measures can be taken.
Aftercare
The affected person can still visit the doctor to be prescribed medicines to alleviate the symptoms. Such medicine is often herbal-based. There are, moreover, a variety of weather-related complaints. A weather-sensitive person feels the discomfort differently in each weather situation. If he suffers from migraine especially during warm fronts, the doctor can prescribe appropriate painkillers. In addition, he can advise him to adjust appropriately to the hypersensitivity so that it does not have a negative effect on the quality of life. If the weather sensitivity places an unusual burden on the sufferer and leads to frequent sick leave, the administration of stronger medication is advisable. In this case, medical aftercare can be taken by informing the patient about the effects of the medicine. If side effects occur, the patient should consult his or her family doctor as part of the follow-up care. There, the interactions are treated under medical supervision.
What you can do yourself
Weather sensitivity has become a kind of disease of civilization: Many complain of headaches, dizziness and also sleep disturbances. Others are particularly troubled by debilitating aching limbs. There are some useful home remedies, with which annoying weather complaints can usually be driven away quickly. If the circulation is weakened, a so-called “arm bath” can help to regain momentum. To do this, run cold water, preferably in the sink, and then immerse both arms up to the middle of the upper arm. Move the arms back and forth a little, remove them after about 30 seconds and dry them. From Ayurvedic medicine comes another home remedy that provides the body with an energy boost already in the morning: To do this, boil a quarter liter of water and drink it in small sips. Hydration and heat have an invigorating effect. If you sometimes feel dizzy when the weather changes, you should use medicinal drops containing myrtle and yellow jasmine as homeopathic ingredients. At the same time it is advisable to drink a lot. If sufferers feel a sinking feeling, this can be countered with an apple spritzer – the carbon dioxide boosts the circulation, while the fructose in the juice stimulates the blood sugar. Walks outdoors also act as a circulation booster. In case of sleep disturbances via weather change, herbal remedies with valerian promote a restful night.
