Certain weather conditions are often associated with these complaints. It is clear that extreme heat and humidity lead to impaired health: This was seen particularly impressively during the hot spell in the summer of 2003. Here, there was a significant increase in mortality among the population.
The connection is also evident in "normal" years. Mortality increases by up to 25% when high temperature is paired with no wind, according to a study in Baden-Württemberg between the years 1968-1997.
How does the weather affect us?
It seems clear: When the weather changes, when it's humid and muggy, when it's nasty cold, we feel bad. But unfortunately, it's not so easy to pinpoint exactly.
Science has a hard time with weather sensitivity.
Here are some of the most likely explanations for the phenomenon:
Pressure fluctuations
Adults have a skin surface area of about 2 square meters. That's the equivalent of 20,000 square centimeters. On each of these square centimeters there is a pressure of 1 kp! That means that, all together, a pressure of 20 tons weighs on each of us.
Fortunately, we don't notice any of this because the pressure is the same inside and outside. We swim in the air like a fish in water!
When the pressure changes, pressure fluctuations of a few to several hundred kilograms can occur. If we are healthy, we notice little. However, if our ability to regulate is limited, it can put a strain on our circulation.
If an area of high pressure meets an area of low pressure, "gravity waves", i.e. low-frequency fluctuations in air pressure, can occur. The frequencies range from 0.001 Hz to several Hz, i.e. from one oscillation per quarter of an hour to several oscillations per second. (For the experts: the amplitude ranges from 0.01 hPa to 3 hPa in extreme cases).
In other words, people are rhythmically pressed and released. This is registered by the "baroreceptors", i.e. the pressure sensors on the carotid artery and the aorta, which are responsible for blood pressure. Those who are particularly sensitive here try to compensate for the pressure fluctuations and regulate the blood pressure once up and then down again.
It is easy to imagine that this then leads to discomfort (circulatory problems, dizziness) and is also exhausting in the long run (exhaustion, fatigue, tiredness).
There are probably people who have particularly sensitive baroreceptors. This could be compared with the fibromyalgia syndrome, in which there is a general lowering of the threshold.
In addition to the strong fluctuations in daily pressure, faster pressure waves could also be responsible for the complaints. These occur when different air masses flow past each other. They start to oscillate and waves are created, as on a water surface.
Temperature fluctuations
Fluctuations in temperature, however, also demand a lot from our body temperature regulation.
Our body is in a constant process of adaptation, in which the production and removal of heat must be constantly controlled. We constantly produce heat and at the same time need a certain body temperature for our well-being.
Through increased work, through heat shivering, through cooling of the skin or warm clothing, we can increase this. By opening the skin vessels, sweating or light clothing it can be lowered.
Both processes are constantly closely regulated.
This results in a special feature: we cope comparatively well with cold, but only to a limited extent with heat.
Humans can still survive at a body temperature of 17°C (!), i.e. a reduction of 10°C. But at an increase of 5°C to 42°C, it already becomes life-threatening.
Accordingly, heat waves, especially paired with humidity, low wind speed and direct sunlight are a danger, because now we can hardly dissipate our excess heat.
