Weather changes

Weather changes can influence your health and wellbeing. Grandma might have told you “my knee says it’s going to rain!”, and it DID… Frigid air and breathing shallow can make your body react in unexpected ways. Low hydration during hot weather or high humidity days can lead to many health issues.

Heat and heatstroke

Heatstroke can be the end result of soaring temperatures, not drinking enough fluids and high humidity. When temperatures spike, we tend to just keep on working, cause “It has to get done!” Most of us have heard the stories of needing to get the cattle sorted, fencing repaired, the field planted and, ugh, getting the hay put up and into the barn.

When we don’t hydrate enough, and sweat out our electrolytes (minerals), dehydration and heatstroke can be the results. Heat in and of itself makes us sweat, but combined with humidity or wind can really step up the process. We can start feeling nauseous, weak and irritable. When we pay little attention to these signs, we can end up in serious trouble. Throwing up and weakness could be the least of the problems, coma and death can result as well.

The best thing to do – hydrate before, during and after strenuous activity in high heat situations. Have a cool place to go if needed, and have someone check-in regularly to make sure we are OK throughout the day. We should pay attention to our bodies and the warning signs they give us. And – have a reliable source of electrolytes on hand to replenish what we’ve lost.

Headaches and Migraines

One possible cause of headaches is constriction of the blood vessels in the head and brain. Cold weather exposure may cause blood vessels to quickly constrict thereby lowering blood flow to the brain. When blood vessels constrict, not only is brain blood flow affected, so is the blood flow to muscles, which can tighten and cause tension headaches. Migraine headaches can also occur because of weather changes. Stormy weather (a drop in barometric pressure), extreme cold, even sun glare, can cause brain chemistry changes that trigger migraines.

Heat can also be a trigger for migraines. The American Migraine Foundation states on their website that “Storms, excessive heat and changes in barometric pressure are common weather-related migraine triggers that can lead to a migraine attack. High humidity and heat can easily lead to dehydration, another common trigger.”

Track your headaches, the severity of pain, where they occur and take note of any weather-related events that may be a trigger. Tracking your headaches is one way to know what your triggers are and avoid severe headaches or migraines in the future.

Dry Skin

When temperatures drop, the humidity also goes down, which in turn provides less moisture to the skin. Combined with lower temperatures, winter winds can dry your skin, leaving red, itchy areas. The skin has a protective layer of lipids (fat). Cold weather can damage this layer and allow bacteria and virus’s entry.

Furnaces and heating stoves can actually dry out your home and your skin. Use a humidifier in your home to help hydrate your skin. Adding moisture to the air can help rehydrate your skin even while you sleep. If you are outside a lot (hello farmers!), make sure to hydrate all year long. Dry skin, cracking lips and itching are telltale signs that you are not getting the internal hydration you need to stay healthy.

Low Energy and Depression

During the winter months, lots of people say “I feel sad.” No kidding. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) strikes during the colder months because of less light exposure during the day. People experiencing symptoms of SAD produce more ‘serotonin transporter’ chemicals in their brains, which lock serotonin, the hormone that causes feelings of happiness. When serotonin can’t perform its function, we experience a lowering of our “happiness”.

Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D is made in our skin by sun exposure converting cholesterol, stored in our skin. When the weather gets colder, we tend to stay indoors more and do not have enough sun exposure to make enough Vitamin D.

Low levels of Vitamin D can include greater pain sensitivity, feeling more tired than normal and weakness.

You can increase your Vitamin D levels by getting skin exposed to sunlight outdoors and in other ways too; consuming fortified milk and other liquids (fruit juices – check labels), eating fatty fish, or taking a reputable supplement. Vitamin D requirements can vary by person, ask your healthcare professional about the recommended dose.

Breathing Problems

Falling temperatures can cause muscle spasm of small airways in your lungs, making them narrower and causing shortness of breath. If you notice this happening, you can wear a mask that limits the temperature difference when you breathe.

Colds

Being in close contact with others because we’re spending more time inside increases your chances of catching any virus (cold or flu). Viruses can be contagious for a few days before the development of symptoms, so it’s easy to become exposed without knowing it. A virus can live for 2-4 hours without being in a host (that’s us). One defense is washing your hands often and staying clear of persons with symptoms.

Joint Pain

This one is up in the air, with little scientific evidence other than case studies and anecdotal stories. One way joints might be affected by colder weather is an increase in soft tissue swelling, causing pressure on the joint and therefore pain. Another cause might be the lack of hydration mentioned abov If the joint does not have the internal moisture it needs to function properly, there could be local pain (in that joint). Plus it can cause muscle, tendon and ligament contractions leading to functional changes in the ways we use our muscles. Those changes can be painful as well.

Weakened Skin and Nails

Cold can cause the small blood vessels (capillaries) in our skin, fingers, and toes to constrict. This reduces blood flow, delivery of water, nutrition, and oxygen, resulting in dry skin and nails. When these are dry, they can be more prone to minor cuts and injuries.

Dr Armour
Armour Chiropractic

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