Bioweather proves that changes in the weather can throw people off track. A medical meteorologist explains how the weather can affect health.
Munich – Headache when the weather changes? Bad mood with dark clouds? The connection between weather and health is a widespread topic. Weather changes are often cited as the cause of headaches or sleep disorders. And it's true. The weather can have a significant impact on our well-being. This phenomenon, which describes the relationship between weather and the human body, is called bioweather. The German Weather Service (DWD) even publishes special danger indices for people who are particularly sensitive or sensitive to the weather.
Weather and health: The DWD's daily danger indices
Kathrin Graw from the DWD Human Biometeorology Department explains to our editorial team: “It is usually not a weather parameter that can throw a person out of balance.” It is more the changes in many meteorological parameters that play a role. Depending on the situation, the weather can influence our well-being, mood, performance and our health. This can be particularly challenging for people with certain illnesses or medical conditions.
The DWD website therefore contains bioweather forecasts with various danger indices for those who are sensitive to the weather. “Previously, these forecasts were only made available to doctors and were not publicly available to the entire population because of fears that the information would pre-program the population for weather-related complaints,” reveals Graw. Nowadays, anyone can look at the “danger map” for the next three days.
Four different parameters of health can be looked up:
Danger index “General health impairments”
Danger index “Asthmatic diseases”
Danger index for cardiovascular complaints
Danger index “Rheumatic complaints”
The map shows either “no influence”, a “low risk”, a “high risk” or a “positive influence” for the different regions. Bavaria is assigned area 11.
DWD expert explains how the weather affects the body
Graw explains which danger index turns red in which weather conditions (high danger). Before a strong warm front, in which temperatures rise rapidly and air pressure falls, the danger index for “general well-being” would indicate a high risk for the respective region.
In asthmatic illnesses, a strong cold front, which cools down, can cause more symptoms. “Cold and damp are particularly unfavorable for rheumatic complaints,” the medical meteorologist continues. It has not yet been conclusively clarified whether the weather really influences the pain of sufferers. “It is assumed that cold and damp affect the pain receptors.” According to Graw, everyone reacts very individually to weather stimuli.
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For people with cardiovascular problems, there are special cards that indicate weather sensitivity when blood pressure is low or high. Graw explains: “When the temperature drops, the external blood vessels constrict so that the body releases less heat to the outside.” However, she continues: “However, the narrowing of the blood vessels increases blood pressure. For people who are already affected by high blood pressure, this can contribute to worsening of their symptoms.”
Weather doesn't make you sick, it's usually just the straw that breaks the camel's back.
Kathrin Graw from the DWD Human Biometeorology Department
What weather-sensitive people can do when the temperature changes
Various weather services provide scales that indicate potential symptoms of a change in weather. For example, those sensitive to the weather can check
wetter.com
to see whether the upcoming weather could possibly cause headaches, irritability or a “preparation for depression”.
These forecasts can help those sensitive to the weather plan their everyday lives better and thus improve their quality of life, says Graw. But what can those affected do then? Graw advises: “If there is a high risk to your health due to a severe change in the weather, it helps to eliminate or reduce other stress factors as much as possible so that the body has more resources to adapt to the weather, because weather does not make you sick, it is usually just the straw that breaks the camel’s back.”
In the long term, contrast showers and walks in mild cold can be helpful. Graw generally recommends a healthy lifestyle and getting some fresh air regularly, regardless of the weather.
(tkip)