The Weather and Your Health

2c9n8b5b7r · Wysłany: Czw 13:53, 10 Mar 2011 Temat postu: The Weather and Your Health

written by Mark Sneller,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], PhD
Our reaction to our outdoor and indoor environments can be related to the weather of the day. For thousands of years, people have understood that sunlight,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], cloudiness,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], stormy conditions, and when they could measure it,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], falling barometric pressure can affect their health and well-being. Let’s take a brief look at how this works.
When the barometric pressure drops,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], joints and old injuries ache. Knees and lower back areas become stiff and swollen. This is because the fall in the pressure causes an increase in tissue fluid around the injured joints. This causes pressure on nerve endings. A person who has occasional headaches would do well to track the storm systems in their locale. Frequently,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], a correlation will be made with the weather. This is especially true for women because they are more weather sensitive than men. Interestingly,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], problems frequently begin one or more days prior to the onset of the storm front.
Lack of sunlight affects the production of serotonin,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], a neurotransmitter that influences our moods,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], sleep patterns,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], sexual drive,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], and attitudes. That’s why conservative living may lessen physical and mental affects of the weather.
Breezy conditions frequently precede storm fronts,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], whether the the sun is shining or not. Hot or cold winds are believed by many to produce an excess of positive ions,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], which are attributed to serotonin production. Whatever the cause,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], unproven as yet,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], hot and cold winds are the worst and are known to lead to excitability in children in classrooms,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], and drivers behind the wheel.
Indirectly,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], breezy conditions can lead to spikes in airborne mold,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], pollen,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], and dust. In addition, a sharp cold front will push aero-allergens in front of it to lead to another spike in particle counts.
There are a myriad of ways that weather can affect our sensitivity to our environment,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], many of which we cannot control.
You may respond to Dr. Sneller below or email him at [link widoczny dla zalogowanych]