Weather sensitivity – causes, symptoms & therapy

A definition of weather sensitivity or meteoropathy establishes the connection between weather and health problems. Headaches or dizziness , weather-related allergies or heart problems do not only exist in the imagination. They are due to difficulties in adapting to weather conditions that differ significantly from those before. Occasionally there is a distinction from weather sensitivity, which refers to the deterioration of certain diseases in special weather conditions.

This sensitivity often becomes effective in advance of a change in the weather. In general, it is a question of adjustment problems and an overload of the organism. In the case of underlying diseases such as asthma , articular rheumatism or cardiovascular diseases , aggravation of the underlying disease can be observed in extreme weather conditions. In itself, weather sensitivity is not a disease. It is simply an increased sensitivity to certain weather conditions.

causes

The causes of weather sensitivity include all abrupt climate, temperature or weather changes to which the organism reacts with adaptation problems. As a rule, it is not the changes in air pressure that are to blame for the health problems, but the change in air mass, a thunderstorm or a strong temperature fluctuation.You can also be sensitive to the weather in the first few days of your holiday, when you travel from northern Germany to the warm south or from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. Some are suddenly better off in different climatic conditions, others worse off at first. The less we office people spend outdoors, the slower the body adapts to climatic changes. Genetic dispositions can also be responsible for increased weather sensitivity. People who work outside a lot are usually less sensitive to the weather.

symptoms and course

Everyone has their own opinion about the symptoms and course of weather sensitivity. The vegetative nervous system seems to be overstimulated when we are sensitive to the weather. Some of those affected experience pain from old surgical scars or long-healed broken bones when the weather changes , while other people experience headaches, migraines , loss of performance and concentration problems , sleep disorders , circulatory problems , depression and dizziness .

If you are particularly sensitive to a certain climate factor, moving to another region can work wonders. The course of the weather sensitivity varies depending on the sensitivity. In some of those affected, the body adapts to the new conditions after a while. For other people, the process takes longer. Sensitivity to the weather exists throughout the period in which a certain weather situation prevails. As soon as it changes, the feeling of illness also goes away.

Diagnose

Sensitivity to the weather does not require a diagnosis. It is not a disease, even if it is occasionally accompanied by feelings of illness. However, it is important to know which climate is good for you and what to expect when the weather changes in the event of serious underlying illnesses.

Under certain circumstances, you can adapt your behavior to an inversion or foehn weather situation. Your family doctor can tell you which weather conditions are particularly stressful if you have asthma or heart disease . In this case, the diagnosis of the underlying disease is the key to weather sensitivity.

treatment and therapy

Everyone can contribute to the treatment of sensitivity to the weather so that their organism can better deal with changes in the weather. Possible measures are hardening measures and physical fitness training, Kneipp treatments and a healthy diet rich in vital substances . This creates important basic conditions with which the organism can react better to changes in the weather.

At least one longer walk a day trains the body, especially if you do it in all weather conditions. Outdoor sports, getting enough sleep, or relaxation techniques also help. It is not for nothing that cures are often relocated to places with a stimulating climate. Chronically ill people who are particularly sensitive to the weather are often recommended to move to another state or climate. It is not for nothing that American seniors like to move to California or Florida, where the climate is stable. A corresponding number of Germans live in Mallorca or Fuerteventura because of their weather sensitivity.

prevention

You don’t actually need to take any precautions against feared sensitivity to the weather. Most people can easily cope with changes in the weather. However, if you have a certain illness, you can definitely prevent a deterioration in your condition due to weather changes. The above measures are usually sufficient.You can also find out whether you feel better indoors or outdoors when there is a hair dryer or a sudden cold snap and behave accordingly. The extent to which climate change will affect us in the future must also be questioned. If we experience more intense periods of heat, prevention to adapt to the expected sensitivity to the weather could make sense.