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Saturday, April 25, 2009

Rainy Days, Mondays, and Old Bones

QUESTION: There are mornings I just can't get my old bones moving.
Strange as it may seem, they are those proverbial days that either are rainy days or Mondays.
Is there any evidence in medical writings that there is more truth than fiction in this commonly held idea?

ANSWER: While I can't speak for Mondays, researchers are discovering that there may indeed be strong links between the weather and the state of people's emotions.
A new term biometeorology has been coined to describe this field. One theory holds that a falling barometer causes the body to absorb more water from the intestinal tract, leading to swelling that can add up to an inch to the waistline; the retained water also puts extra pressure on tissue in the brain, leading to irritability and depression in many people.
Studies have indicated that people have markedly slower reaction times during cloudy, snowy, or rainy weather than on sunny days; another theory states that electromagnetic waves from storms influence activity in the brain, while still others point to the simple physical discomfort of hot, muggy weather combined with increased outdoor leisure time, as leading to increased crime rates in the summer. Additional studies have linked bad weather with a variety of physical complaints: emergency room records tie the onset of a cold wave with a rise in asthma and migraine attacks, as well as colic and strokes; in cold weather, the body tends to crave more fats and calories in order to keep warm.
As scientists learn more about the way weather affects people, they may be able to anticipate and prevent many health and social problems.


The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.