Why a coming storm causes sore joints
It鈥檚 the ultimate irony. I love to write about weather, but today it is hard because I鈥檓 under the weather. Why do some weather changes make us feel awful? (And why do people say 鈥渦nder the weather鈥?)
A storm front is passing through and my head is doing an excellent imitation of an exploding nuclear warhead. During the few pathetic moments that I can think, I wonder why. Why do weather fronts make some people feel awful?
People have known about the weather connection since Ancient Greece when Hippocrates, the 鈥淔ather of Western Medicine鈥 wrote about it. According to biometeorology, the science of weather and health, some theories of how winter storms can put you under the weather are鈥
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- Approaching storms and weather fronts change the air pressure. When atmospheric pressure decreases body tissues swell slightly. This can put increased pressure on joints and sinuses.
- Changing temperatures, specifically lowering temperatures, can cause blood vessels to narrow, raising blood pressure. Indeed, a study in BMJ reported that, due to higher blood pressure, a high risk of clotting and shoveling snow, the nation has an additional 200 heart attacks for each drop of 1掳C (1.8掳F)
- Low temperatures also causes blood viscosity, or thickness. Your blood pressure gets a double whammy. It also makes it a bit more difficult for diabetics to control their blood sugars during cold fronts.
- Blood isn鈥檛 the only fluid to thicken. Joint fluids thicken increasing that stiff, throbbing feeling.
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Here鈥檚 some good news: When you are out in the cold, your body burns calories!
All of these are theories and many scientists claim the medical evidence is still unclear. The weather changes are slight, don鈥檛 affect all people and hard to prove. Some dismiss it all as just being in your mind.
Why Do People Say 鈥淯nder the 蜜桃恋人鈥?
The actual idiom 鈥渦nder the weather,鈥 of course has nothing to do with being rain or snow, but is used when people feel sick or unwell.
It came from seafaring days, well before planes and automobiles. Bad weather tossing a ship could really make people seasick. Sick sailors and passengers were sent below deck where the rocking was less noticeable, so they were 鈥渦nder the weather鈥.
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The term 鈥渦nder the weather鈥 is a seafaring term from when rough weather could leave you feeling seasick. Source: Willem van de Velde II, 1707
So remember 鈥 being under the weather is not science. Try telling that to granny and her aching weather knee. Good luck!
James J. Garriss
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This article is the best explanation of what atmospheric pressure changes can do to your body. It explains in deeper, clearer terminology just how the decreases and increases in weather pressure (i.e.,passing weather fronts, not just rain/snow and sunny high pressure days)can change the conditions in your body and under your skin. Thanks, now please tell us what we can do to ease the discomfort. Can you preempt the pain by watching for drops in barometric pressure or wait until its unleashed its full awesome fury on your body before you give into medicated help? Anyone out there with opinions, pro and con on this matter? I'd like to hear what the general consensus is on the subject.
I do not have an answer. I'm hoping all the replies you receive are printed. Negative ions definitely effect people - similarity.
Laurinda
