No more exercise: how changes in weather affect well-being

No more exercise: how changes in the weather affect well-being

Weather addiction is more than a myth, or an excuse for a bad mood.

Spring weather can be deceiving. Just yesterday, the sun was shining brightly and people were walking around in shorts. And today the sky is again covered with clouds, and your favorite white sneakers have to be left until better times. Such drastic changes especially affect people who are meteorologically dependent. Bad weather affects not only mood, but also the general condition. When it is hard to even get out of bed, is it worth talking about training?

Together with Dmitry Troshin, a doctor from the European Medical Center, we find out whether weather changes can really affect your well-being and who are called meteodependent.

Can the weather affect a person’s condition?

Weather can certainly affect your well-being, but more often it is caused by changes in the temperature and humidity of the environment. For example, increases in temperature or decreases in humidity can cause the body to dehydrate (lose fluids). This can be critical, for example, in elderly patients, especially those with associated heart disease and sleep disorders.

Cold weather can cause exacerbations of skin conditions such as eczema. In addition, lack of sunlight affects vitamin D production and can lead to a decrease in mood or general well-being.

Who can be considered weather-dependent and in what does it manifest itself?

In Russia, meteodependent people are more often understood as people who react to changes in atmospheric pressure. Here it is worth noting a possible change in blood pressure (more often manifested in the elderly). This may be associated with changes in the width of the lumen of blood vessels. Also, some people experience pain in the joints. The causes may be changes in the viscosity of intra-articular fluid or increased sensitivity of pain receptors. This is usually the case for those who already have joint problems (arthritis, injuries, etc.).

In addition, the consequences of sudden changes in the weather can become headaches. According to the doctor, this can be explained by a change in pressure in the sinuses. However, more scientific research is needed to confirm these theories.

How to minimize the effects of weather changes?

To minimize the effects of changeable weather, it is worth avoiding sudden temperature changes and prolonged exposure to the sun if possible. In winter, it is recommended to use special protective creams, and in summer – products with SPF. It is also important to drink plenty of water and avoid dehydration.