“Are we living barometers?” I happened upon this article from Wellness Options Magazine and had to share it, as many of us with chronic illnesses experience a worsening of our symptoms when barometric pressure changes and wonder “Why”? Through the years I have searched the web and asked questions of doctors as to why my symptoms and level of function worsen when the weather changes–warmer storm fronts moving in and out, in particular. I have found it difficult to find answers or information.
This article directly addresses and contemplates the effect of barometric pressure changes on physiology. Here is an excerpt:
Are we living barometers?
Many animals and plants can sense changes in weather. Birds feel a drop in barometric pressure before the arrival of ñbadî weather and increase their foraging. Cats become restless, and ants prepare their mounds for the expected rain and wind. Some people claim they can predict weather based on how their bodies feel, and scientists have detected some physiological evidence that this may be true.
Rapid changes in temperature affect blood pH, blood pressure, urine volume, and tissue permeability. Epidemics may also be related to sudden, large changes in weather conditions. A longitudinal study of 59 years of data demonstrated that sudden increases in influenza outbreaks in Germany, Norway, and Switzerland most frequently occurred between January and March, when cold air masses moved over the areas.
Medical conditions that are sensitive to weather changes include: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, low back pain, gout, fibromyalgia, phantom limb pain, scar pain, headaches, trigeminal neuralgia, and pain influenced by mood disorders. Weather is also associated with changes in birth rates, sperm count, outbreaks of pneumonia, influenza and bronchitis.
Changes in weather can also induce short-term swings in mood, emotional well-being, and behavioural aberrations. Some of the meteorological variables implicated include: temperature, barometric pressure, rainfall, humidity, thunder-storm activity, sunshine, and the level of ionization of the air.
Click here to continue reading this article (full of more enlightening information, including- why we might feel worse January through March)
