Out Of Hibernation
How the weather can affect your mind and body
By Kelsey Lindsey
It’s been cold and it’s been dark. The thought of removing yourself from your den of covers is chilling in itself, resulting in a soft bulge that inevitability starts to form around some of our bellies.
Winter seems to cast an almost lethargic note on certain peoples’ moods, perhaps even giving the body itself some aches and pains.
But wait: The songbird’s cry is just a few weeks away! While uplifting in thought, this news isn’t the best for our minds, joints, or hearts at the moment. As our Colorado spring approaches, I’ll reflect on some of the ways weather can affect the physical and psychological self.
First, let’s address seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. Yes, this is a thing, and it’s treatable.
“SAD is a type of depression affecting 5 to 10 percent of the population by some estimates, and sets in at the same time of year consistently. People who suffer from SAD have the same common signs of depression including anxiety, lack of energy, social withdrawal, and irritability.”
Treatments of SAD, according to the Mayo Clinic, range from light therapy to medications and psychotherapy.
Although you might not be diagnosed with SAD, you may still experience a change of mood when the weather changes. A 1980 study found that high humidity made participants less likely to concentrate and sleepier compared to lower humidity, while a 2008 study found that higher temperatures could help bring a depressed person up, while wind or lack of sun can depress a sad person even further.
Besides mental side effects, weather can also have a physical impact on humans’ bodies. A 2013 study from the International Journal of Biometeorology examined the different temperature shifts in five cities from 1975 to 2004, and found that in the majority of the cities, there were higher rates of cardiovascular and respiratory-related deaths on winter days. This may be due to extreme temperatures causing stress on the cardiovascular system, and the rise of strenuous activities like snow-shoveling and flu season.
Finally, we’ve all heard about — or maybe even experienced — shifts in weather affecting joint pain. While there’s no concrete explanation for this, scientists have looked at the changes in air pressure and how this could expand tissues surrounding the joints, causing discomfort.
The elements’ physical effects on humans are researched continually, so visit a doctor if any of your symptoms become a hindrance to your everyday mental and physical well-being.
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