It's an Ill Wind

It's an Ill Wind
Here are details of how the weather triggers ailments from flu to migraines, asthma or even heart attack. It certainly adds new meaning to the phrase 'feeling under the weather'. If you're curiousity is aroused, READ ON!
Weather feature	Ailment	Remarks	Reasons why
SNOW	Migraine	Headaches are more common when there is any change in the air, such as snow, hail or rain.	The atmosphere's electric charge changes, increasing blood flow to the brain As the blood vessels swell and dilate, they cause a throbbing pain.
DAMP FOG	Chest Infections	Three days of foggy weather increases the risk four times. Children are particularly at risk.	Drizzly fog provides an ideal breeding ground for the airborne viruses that hit our chest. They need water to survive and the moisture in foggy air, plus the low temperature, lets them flourish.
LOW CLOUD	Asthma and Bronchitis	Respiratory problems are more common during periods of low cloud cover.	Cloud acts like a lid, trapping pollutants pumped out from homes, cars and factories. In cold weather we use more fuel, creating more pollutants. As we come into contact with them, they irritate the eyes, nose and throat. Then, as we breathe in fully, they start to aggravate the lungs, giving us respiratory problems.
RAIN	Bunions and Corns	Before a rain shower your feet are 30 per cent more likely to give you bother.	Before a shower, air pressure drops. The body adjusts to the outside lower pressure by lowering its internal pressure. This means the bones swell, which can cause pain in the joints. For some reason the feet are the most sensitive part of the body to this change.
HOT DAYS	Arthritis	Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, swollen tendons and inflamed muscles are aggravated by heat.	As the body heats up, our arteries widen to release excess heat through the skin. But as they widen they exert pressure on the tissue and joints around them, causing pain to those with inflammatory problems.
COLD SNAPS	Heart Attack	Two days of freezing temperatures lead to a 30 per cent increase in the number of heart attacks and strokes	When the temperature plummets, our blood starts to thicken. The cold also makes our blood pressure rise, because the body pumps blood round faster to keep warm. This increases our risk of blood clots and strokes.
STILL and WINDLESS	Influenza	In still, cold weather, flu cases rocket by up to 35 per cent.	The flu virus is airborne. The virus lingers in the air during still conditions. In winter, the population's immune system is not working at its peak making people more vulnerable. The flu epidemic of 1989 followed a period of stagnant low cloud.
TEMPERATURE DROP	Flu, Bronchitis and Colds	These are 20% more likely to strike after a spell of cold weather.	The body takes between six and ten hours to acclimatise to a sudden drop in temperature of five degrees or more. In the meantime, it shivers to generate warmth. This gives the body the message that it is going into shock, with the result that it concentrates resources on maintaining core body temperature, reducing the effectiveness of the immune system.
STRONG WIND	Aches and Pains	As many as 30 per cent more people complain of aches and pains during stormy, windy weather.	Windy weather is caused by a drop in atmospheric pressure. The body adjusts to the lower pressure outside by lowering its internal pressure. This means the bones swell slightly, which can make joints stiffer and more painful.
SUNLESS DAYS	Depression	A short, sunless winter's day increases the chance of depression by 20 per cent.	When light stimulates nerve impulses to the part of the brain controlling mood, appetite, sleep and temperature. Without the necessary light it lies dormant, unable to carry out its normal role. It will not provide adequate levels of serotonin which lifts mood, so you're left feeling depressed.
LIGHTNING	Asthma	Thunder storms lead to a huge rise in the number of patients who need treatment for asthma attacks. Within an hour of a violent storm in London in 1994, 640 people attended the capital's casualty departments - six times the ussual figure. A third said it was the first time they had ever had an attack.	Scientists are still investigating.
What can we do to minimise the adverse effects of the weather on our health? Most doctors feel that by following some simple advice, we can avoid a lot of the potential risks. Seemingly, the secret is to respect the weather. Stay warm, both indoors and out. (In Britain we often keep our homes too cool: on the continent the average sitting room is 21°C, whereas here, it's 18°C, which is not enough to keep you warm in the depths of winter). Neither do you need to stay inside, a walk is a great health tonic. But wear your hat, gloves and scarf. It sounds like common sense, but it's advice that can save lives.
How to Beat the Weather
Make sure your sitting room is over 18^oC when the weather is cold. The ideal indoor temperature is 21^oC. Don't be tempted to turn the heating up to a Caribbean summer level. If you get too hot you'll sweat as the body tries to cool down. Then when you go outside into the freezing conditions, your body's temperature regulator will take emergency action and make you shiver to generate heat. But shivering weakens the immune system, heightening the chance of catching a bug. Wrap up when you go outside. Going from a warm house into the winter cold won't affect your health unless you're not wearing enough. When you go outside your body begins to cool, but it soon starts to regulate its temperature if you're well wrapped up. If you shiver it means you are losing heat. So put on more clothing. Don't use cold weather as an excuse to stay indoors. A stroll in the cold is a great tonic: it helps fight depression and raises the body temperature naturally, so boosting the immune system. Don't give in to your stodge. Your body needs help in fighting off the bugs, so eat fresh fruit and vegetables regularly. Wear a hat - 30 per cent of the body's heat is lost through the head.

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