Meteosensitivity and meteolability: what to do, how to fight?

The concepts of "meteorological sensitivity" and "meteorological lability", used to describe the human body's reaction to changes in weather conditions and climate, are mistakenly considered synonymous by many people. In fact, meteorological sensitivity is a property of any living organism, while meteorological lability is merely a characteristic of pathologically high meteorological sensitivity, which is not typical for all people.

Meteoretability and meteolability

Man as a biological being is subject to the same changes as the world around him. It is not for nothing that a good positive mood is called sunny, a sad state of mind is called cloudy or rainy, and when a person is angry, they say that there will be a thunderstorm.

Changing mood to match the weather is a normal physiological reaction of a healthy organism. Such a reaction to the weather is called meteosensitivity, and it is considered normal. People for whom weather changes affect only the emotional side are called meteostable or meteoresistant (resistant means stable). The well-being of such people does not depend on natural and weather changes.

If, however, when the weather or climate changes, not only emotional symptoms but also other suspicious symptoms are observed, as a result of which a person feels unwell, we are talking about meteo-lability. The word "lability" means instability, changeability. In meteo-stable people, who are also called meteo-dependent, the general condition changes in accordance with changes in the weather, climate, and solar activity.

People who are susceptible to weather changes are sometimes called weather pathologists, emphasizing the fact that their reaction to changes in the environment is pathological and not characteristic of a healthy organism.

Thus, meteosensitivity in humans can manifest itself in two forms: meteoresistance and meteolability. Moreover, these conditions are not constant, and under the influence of certain factors, a person with low meteosensitivity may at some point feel an increasing dependence of their condition on temperature or humidity fluctuations, weather changes and solar activity.

Epidemiology

Increased weather sensitivity or weather lability is becoming the scourge of our time. According to statistics, sensitivity to changes in weather conditions is a fairly common pathology. Only in the middle zone can every third person be considered weather-dependent. Moreover, age is not a characteristic indicator, which cannot be said about gender. It has been noted that women much more often than men note symptoms of malaise associated with weather changes. They react more acutely to the full moon and new moon, magnetic storms and fluctuations in atmospheric pressure.

It is safe to say that rural residents do not feel changes in weather conditions as acutely as city dwellers. And this is not surprising, because villagers, thanks to clean air and natural products, are a healthier category of the planet's population.

As for the time of appearance of weather dependence symptoms, there are also statistics here. The overwhelming majority of weather-sensitive people (about 90 percent) note a deterioration in their health directly during natural disasters. The remaining 10 percent begin to feel unwell after 1-2 days. However, there is a certain part of people who are kind of prophets, because they anticipate weather changes in advance. Therefore, no one is surprised by the “prophecy”: legs are twisted by the weather, because after a day or two you can really expect a deterioration in weather conditions (usually rain, fog).

Recently, we have seen an increase in the number of weather-sensitive people (especially among city dwellers), which is facilitated by:

• high susceptibility to stress factors,
• an increase in the number of diseases characterized by increased weather sensitivity and the development of weather instability (for example, doctors diagnose VSD in more than 80% of patients in hospitals and clinics, and hypertension is not much less common),
• a sedentary lifestyle, typical for many meteopathic patients,
• the growth in the number of people engaged in intellectual work,
• violation of the diet and daily routine, as a result of which the body begins to experience an acute need for the vitamins and microelements it needs, normal rest, fresh air, etc., hence the decrease in immunity,
• poor ecology (working in factories with high levels of dust and chemical contamination of the air, living near sources of pollution).

[ 1 ], [ 2 ]

Causes weather sensitivity

Let's try to figure out why some people practically do not react to weather changes, while others literally fall off their feet and suffer from pain of various localizations, and how it happens that a weather-resistant person suddenly becomes weather-labile and vice versa.

It is believed that in an absolutely healthy person all processes proceed stably. They adapt perfectly to any changes in the environment, do not react to changes in atmospheric pressure (within the norm), changes in climate zones, changes in weather conditions and solar activity, high or low air humidity, etc.

The worst thing that can happen to a weather-resistant person is depression against the background of cloudy and rainy weather. But weather-stable people, who mostly suffer from various chronic diseases, such weather can lead to the hospital, their condition worsens so much.

Various changes in weather and climate conditions, the Earth's magnetic field, and the activity of the Sun and Moon can affect the well-being of patients with cardiovascular pathologies, joint diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, nervous, endocrine and other body systems. Moreover, the symptoms will be completely different depending on the influencing factors and the patient's health condition.

In patients with chronic diseases, weather sensitivity has a particularly pronounced coloration, since weather changes cause an exacerbation of existing pathologies and corresponding symptoms.

The following can provoke an exacerbation of chronic pathologies with increased meteosensitivity and manifestations of meteolability:

• fluctuations in atmospheric pressure: cardiovascular pathologies, bone and joint diseases, head and chest injuries, infectious and inflammatory pathologies of the respiratory system and ENT organs, gastrointestinal diseases, increased intracranial pressure. As well as diseases occurring against the background of tissue oxygen starvation (airway obstruction, pneumonia, pulmonary emphysema, some heart defects), disruption of central and peripheral circulation (CHF, stroke, etc.), anemia
• sharp changes in environmental temperature (pathologies of the nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine systems, autoimmune diseases)
• temperature reduction (any long-term infectious and inflammatory pathologies due to the risk of relapse)
• increase or decrease in air humidity (chronic skin diseases, diseases of the heart, blood vessels, respiratory organs)
• change in air speed (skin diseases, eye pathologies, diseases of the nervous and respiratory systems, VSD)
• increased solar radiation activity (skin diseases, pathologies of the nervous and immune systems, diseases of the heart and blood vessels, autoimmune and oncological pathologies)
• changes in the Earth's electromagnetic field and magnetic storms (pathologies of the central nervous system and brain in the present and past, including traumatic brain injuries, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the endocrine system, weakening of the nervous system due to other long-term pathologies)
• change of seasons and climatic conditions (weakened immunity and chronic bacterial-inflammatory pathologies - winter-autumn, pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system - spring-autumn, by the way, during this period any serious diseases that lead to exhaustion of the body are exacerbated)

However, health pathologies are not the only reason for increased meteosensitivity. Sometimes meteosensitivity is observed in a completely healthy person who does not suffer from chronic pathologies. In this case, they talk about meteo neurosis, which manifests itself in a decrease in the adaptive capacity of the body due to a violation of neuroendocrine regulation.

[ 3 ]

Risk factors

The risk factors for the development of meteorological neurosis are considered to be:

• sedentary lifestyle (hypodynamia),
• oxygen deficiency due to constant stay in a closed room with insufficient access to fresh air,
• excess weight,
• the presence of bad habits, which include not only smoking and alcoholism, but also excessive coffee consumption, overeating,
• high mental stress,
• lack of physical activity,
• stressful situations,
• genetic predisposition.

The above factors negatively affect the body's ability to adapt to environmental changes and reduce its protective properties, hence malaise and decreased performance.

Temperament, which characterizes the type of nervous system, also makes its contribution. Thus, weather instability is most often observed in people with a weak and unstable type of nervous system, which is typical for melancholics and cholerics. An inadequate attitude to changes in the weather plays a major role in the deterioration of the condition of such people, when fixation on this event provokes the appearance of painful symptoms.

But sanguine and phlegmatic people, who are naturally balanced, can feel a deterioration in their health due to changes in the weather only due to reduced immunity.

[ 4 ]

Pathogenesis

As we can see, the problem of meteosensitivity is more relevant today than ever, therefore its study and solution is carried out by a special science - biometeorology. As a result of the conducted research, it was noted that the basis of the mechanisms of formation of meteosensitivity is the violation of human biorhythms.

Biological rhythms of a living organism are cyclical changes in the nature and strength of physical and chemical processes occurring in it. They can be divided into 3 types:

• high-frequency cycles: bioelectrical activity of such important organs as the heart and brain, muscle and nerve fibers, alternation of sleep and wakefulness, etc.,
• mid-frequency cycles (also called circadian cycles): changes in hormonal levels and heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure; they also control urination and sensitivity to drugs,
• low-frequency cycles: changes in performance during the week (it is no coincidence that the first and last days of a five-day work week are characterized by the lowest productivity), the menstrual cycle, changes in metabolism and immunity depending on the time of year, etc.

Under the influence of fluctuations in weather and climate conditions, human biorhythms can also undergo certain changes that affect a person's well-being. Cicada cycles, which repeat 1-2 times a day, are especially susceptible to the influence of various environmental factors.

The hypothalamus, pituitary gland and pineal gland regulate life cycles by receiving information from various organs and systems of the body. In this way, all processes in the body become ordered in time. However, sudden changes in the environment can disrupt the ordered system.

Meteorological changes can disrupt the rhythm of individual processes, and disruptions are observed precisely in those organs and systems that are currently weakened by the disease. Hence, exacerbations of chronic diseases with their characteristic pronounced clinical picture (increased blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbances, pain and aches in the joints, sleep disorders, painful symptoms of gastrointestinal pathologies, etc.).

Now let's look at how various weather conditions affect the well-being of people with high weather sensitivity:

Fluctuations in atmospheric pressure. This value and its changes can be seen only with the help of a barometer, but you can feel it yourself. Changes in air pressure in nature are necessarily reflected in the intracavitary pressure of the human body, the value of electrical resistance of the skin, the number of leukocytes in the blood. If even healthy people have a hard time with such changes, then what can we say about those whose body is weakened by illness.

If the atmospheric pressure changes are within the normal range, healthy people usually do not feel it. Their condition worsens only with significant pressure changes. However, overly emotional unbalanced people can feel a certain psychological discomfort even with minor changes in atmospheric pressure (their mood worsens, they feel an incomprehensible anxiety, their sleep worsens).

It is precisely fluctuations in atmospheric pressure that cause surges in blood pressure, arrhythmia and deterioration of the general condition of patients with heart disease.

People with arthritis and rheumatism experience “breaking” pain in their joints due to low atmospheric pressure before bad weather, and those who have had a chest injury in the past or suffer from chronic inflammation of the pleura experience pain in the chest.

It is not easy for "stomach people" either, because a decrease in atmospheric pressure leads to an increase in pressure in the digestive tract, which in turn leads to the diaphragm rising, which begins to squeeze the overlying organs (lungs, heart). As a result, not only the gastrointestinal tract suffers, but also the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, which means that symptoms of the corresponding pathologies appear.

^{Change in temperature indicators. The human body tolerates temperatures around 18 °} C best (with humidity within 50%). Higher ambient temperatures cause a decrease in blood pressure, cause increased sweating and lead to dehydration, disrupt metabolism, make blood more viscous, which in turn negatively affects the blood supply to various organs. People with endocrine, cardiovascular and respiratory system pathologies suffer first.

Low temperatures are no less dangerous than high ones. As a result of prolonged exposure to cold, vascular spasms occur, which are acutely felt by people with vascular pathologies and heart diseases, who immediately develop headaches and other unpleasant symptoms. Fluctuations in blood pressure in patients with arterial hypertension and hypotension are associated not only with changes in atmospheric pressure, but also with exposure to low temperatures. And with cardiac ischemia on this basis, patients begin to feel pressing pain in the heart area.

But the most dangerous are still large temperature fluctuations during the day. A sharp jump in temperature indicators is considered to be their deviation by only 4 degrees compared to the average daily norm. Both a sharp cold snap and a sudden warming cause failures in the immune system and thermoregulation centers, which leads to an outbreak of respiratory pathologies (even among generally healthy people).

Air humidity. The feeling of the ambient temperature is directly related to air humidity. With increased air humidity, high temperatures are harder to bear (remember how hard it is to breathe in a sauna) and the feeling of cold is exacerbated (you can get frostbite even at slightly positive temperatures). Heat stroke can be caused precisely by high temperature and humidity.

Increased air humidity has a negative effect on blood vessels and is the cause of exacerbation of hypertension symptoms and vascular atherosclerosis. Increased humidity on the eve of a cyclone is marked by a decrease in the concentration of oxygen in the air, which negatively affects the well-being of patients with diseases of the heart, blood vessels, joints, respiratory organs, pathologies caused by oxygen starvation of organs and tissues.

Wind influence. Despite the beneficial effect of a light breeze in warm weather, which increases heat transfer, high wind speed (more than 6 m/s) has a different effect. People with nervous system pathologies or increased excitability may experience irritation and anxiety.

If the wind is felt against the background of low temperatures, the feeling of cold increases, which means that inflammatory diseases of the respiratory organs and vascular pathologies may worsen. For example, with VSD, severe headaches associated with spasm of the cerebral vessels appear.

Wind itself is a carrier of bacterial infection. Under its influence, the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth can dry out, where cracks subsequently form, through which pathogenic bacteria penetrate. This provokes the development of skin and eye diseases, as well as the complication of existing pathologies with secondary infection.

Solar activity. It is no secret that lack of sunlight leads not only to a sad, depressive mood, but also causes other disorders in the body. Deficiency of solar radiation causes neuroses, deterioration of immunity, development of hypocalcemia (sunlight is a source of vitamin D, without which calcium absorption remains very low).

But on the other hand, increased solar activity and passion for sunbathing can provoke the occurrence of photodermatitis, the development and growth of tumor processes, and overheating of the body.

Meteolability to sunlight is observed primarily in childhood and old age. Deterioration of health may also be observed in patients with skin and autoimmune diseases, disorders of the endocrine organs and the central nervous system, and weakened immunity.

The influence of the Earth's magnetic field. The intensity of solar radiation has a direct impact on the electromagnetic field of our planet, which in turn affects us. Increased solar activity causes magnetic storms, to which more than half of all inhabitants of the Earth react with a deterioration in health due to increased blood viscosity, the negative impact of magnetic field fluctuations on vascular tone and the functioning of the central nervous system. The hardest hit are the elderly, those who have previously suffered head injuries, patients of cardiologists, neurologists, psychiatrists and endocrinologists.

But the change of seasons, climate and time zones threatens a total disruption of the synchronization of various processes, even if temporary. A person predisposed to meteoropathy cannot experience only individual changes in the weather, so he feels them in a complex, characteristic of a certain season. For example, high humidity, relatively low temperatures and high atmospheric pressure in the fall, low humidity and high solar activity in the summer, high humidity and strong winds against the background of low temperatures in the spring, etc. The climate of different geographic latitudes also has its own weather characteristics.

Therefore, increased meteosensitivity or meteolability is considered not in relation to any one of the weather characteristics, but in relation to a set of weather conditions typical for a certain climate zone or season. It is for this reason that deterioration in health after moving to another country or during a tourist trip to another continent is associated with climate meteodependence. While exacerbations of chronic diseases are usually discussed in connection with seasonal meteopathies.

[ 5 ], [ 6 ]

Symptoms weather sensitivity

Describing a specific picture of meteosensitivity with its characteristic symptoms is not an easy task, since various diseases add something of their own to the general symptoms. The change of seasons also leaves its mark, since each time of year has its own weather characteristics. In addition, the body of different people can respond to weather changes differently.

Regarding the last point, we can conditionally distinguish 4 degrees of weather sensitivity:

1. Normal meteosensitivity. It manifests itself in the absence of reaction to weather changes or minor mood swings against this background (for example, a melancholy mood against the background of cloudy weather caused by a lack of sunlight, which, by the way, cannot be replenished with artificial lighting).
2. Increased meteosensitivity. It is characterized by: slight malaise, emotional instability, deterioration of mood, attention and performance.
3. Weather dependence. Manifested in the form of pronounced disruptions in the body's functioning: blood pressure surges, changes in the frequency and intensity of heart contractions, changes in laboratory blood parameters (increase in the number of leukocytes), etc.
4. Meteolability or meteopathia. This degree of meteosensitivity requires special treatment, not just symptom relief, since it negatively affects not only a person's well-being, but also their ability to work.

Meteorological sensitivity, like meteorological dependence or meteorological lability, can have different manifestations depending on the accompanying health pathologies. For this reason, obvious meteoropaths are usually divided into several types:

• Cardiac type. The first signs of this type of meteosensitivity are an increase in cardiac symptoms due to fluctuations in weather conditions. Subjective symptoms: heart pain, a feeling of strong and irregular heartbeat, a feeling of shortness of breath.
• Cerebral type. It is characterized by a connection between weather changes and the appearance of symptoms such as migraine-like headaches and dizziness, noise or ringing in the ears, and sometimes the appearance of "flies" before the eyes.
• Mixed type. In meteopaths of this type, the symptoms of the two above-described types of meteosensitivity appear simultaneously.
• Asthenoneurotic type. The name speaks for itself, since the observed symptoms correspond to the asthenic type of nervous system. General weakness and irritability, rapid fatigue are noted. Weather-sensitive people of this type complain of the inability to work normally, and this applies to both physical and mental work. Many experience depression and sleep disorders due to weather changes. Objective symptoms associated with disorders of the central nervous system regulation of vascular contractions are also noted: an increase or decrease in blood pressure.
• Indefinite type. There are no objective symptoms, but meteopaths of this type complain of general weakness and fatigue in connection with weather changes, and note muscle and joint aching pains on the eve of bad weather.

Weather sensitivity in children

It is generally accepted that meteosensitivity and especially meteolability are typical for middle-aged and elderly people who have more than one diagnosis under their belt. However, this is not entirely true. Even very young children are susceptible to weather changes and changes in climate zones. For this reason, for example, it is not recommended to change your place of residence in the first months after the baby is born. After all, in infancy, the neuroendocrine and immune systems are still in the formation stage, which means that the baby's body is not able to adequately respond to changes in the environment.

Newborns are very sensitive to temperature and atmospheric pressure changes. Their bodies react especially sensitively to high temperatures and low pressure. Heat very quickly leads to overheating, which can end very badly, even fatally. As for pressure changes, there are neurological symptoms and some unpleasant manifestations from the gastrointestinal tract.

Nature has thought of everything so that the baby could be born naturally, therefore, on the head of newborns there is an area covered not with bone, but with softer and more elastic cartilaginous tissue. It is the presence of the fontanel that allows the baby to move through the birth canal without damaging the bones of the skull. But after the birth of the baby, this area is the most vulnerable both in terms of injuries and in relation to fluctuations in atmospheric pressure.

Weather sensitivity in children aged 1 year can manifest itself in the form of lethargy and tearfulness, the appearance of intestinal colic, loss of appetite, and whims. The baby can cry heart-rendingly, kick his legs, and refuse to breastfeed without any particular reason.

If the baby's sensitivity to weather is greatly increased, which is manifested in a temporary loss of acquired skills (stops sitting, walking, talking), increased excitability or, conversely, lethargy, it is possible that the cause of this condition is some pathology (dysbacteriosis, diathesis, hydrocephalus, congenital malformations, etc.), the symptoms of which intensify during changes in weather conditions.

In older children, meteosensitivity may arise both against the background of congenital defects and acquired diseases (various infectious diseases, inflammatory pathologies of the brain, VSD and even worms). The most common cause of meteosensitivity are pathologies of the nervous system and diseases that cause general exhaustion of the body.

The nervous system, in turn, is very dependent on psychological factors. For example, stress associated with entering kindergarten, school, secondary specialized and higher educational institutions, passing exams and certifications provoke an increase in weather sensitivity in children and adolescents during this period. An unfavorable family environment with frequent quarrels and scandals also contributes to the development of weather instability.

Another important point is that such a property as increased weather sensitivity can be inherited (for example, meteoroneurosis) or formed against the background of increased attention to the body's reaction to weather changes in parents. In the latter case, the child gets the impression that weather changes should cause unpleasant symptoms, and thanks to self-hypnosis, reinforced by excessive parental care, the child really begins to feel worse if the weather gets worse.

The symptoms of weather sensitivity in childhood are very diverse and contradictory (increased excitability or drowsiness, lethargy and irritability, headaches, abdominal discomfort, etc.), so it is very important to trace the relationship between the emerging symptoms and changes in weather or climate conditions.

Meteosensitivity in vegetative-vascular dystonia

It is precisely the fact that vegetative-vascular dystonia is considered one of the most common pathologies that makes it necessary to consider in more detail the influence of weather conditions on a person with VSD. The syndrome of vegetative dysfunction itself, or vegetoneurosis, as VSD is otherwise called, has negative manifestations on the part of the cardiovascular, respiratory and autonomic nervous systems, which are the first to suffer from increased meteosensitivity.

Disorders of the autonomic nervous system lead to a deterioration in the adaptive abilities of the body, which begins to have difficulty tolerating various changes in weather conditions. And pathologies of the heart, blood vessels and respiratory system are always accompanied by symptoms of meteosensitivity. Thus, the symptoms of meteosensitivity and VSD overlap, and we have a pronounced clinical picture of meteopathies.

Meteorological sensitivity in VSD manifests itself in the form of:

• pain syndrome of various localizations (heart, muscles, head, joints),
• sensations of increased heartbeat, arrhythmia, shortness of breath
• blood pressure surges,
• irritability, anxiety, sometimes panic,
• deterioration of night rest, the causes of which are: insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings,
• dyspeptic symptoms not related to food intake: feeling of bloating, nausea, vomiting.

Feeling unwell when the weather changes also affects the performance of patients with VSD, who, willy-nilly, have to take medications that normalize the functioning of the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

Meteorological sensitivity and meteolability in VSD have a complicated course and due to the fact that such patients tend to exaggerate the danger of the symptoms that arise, and panic only increases the severity of cardiac and vegetative symptoms.

Weather sensitivity during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a special time for every woman, when she, despite the double burden on the body, becomes incredibly happy. One of the factors that can somewhat darken the mood of a pregnant woman is the frequently changing weather conditions.

Changes in hormonal levels, the nature and speed of various biological processes in the mother's body can affect the biorhythms of a woman during pregnancy. She becomes more vulnerable and impressionable. Her body, working for two, experiences severe overloads, and anxiety for the future baby does not allow her to rest normally. It is clear that any changes in the weather cause the expectant mother to feel unwell.

Increased oxygen demand causes the condition to worsen during magnetic storms and anticyclones, while low blood pressure has a negative effect on the heart and gastrointestinal tract. The condition is also aggravated by the increased suspiciousness of the pregnant woman, so many symptoms of meteosensitivity and meteolability in pregnant women can be considered strictly subjective, without any specific basis. For example, they may mistake sleep disorders for a manifestation of meteolability, which are actually caused by an uncomfortable position during a night's rest due to the growing belly and chest and worries about the health of the future child.

Complications and consequences

In itself, meteosensitivity, and even meteolability, is not a disease. However, this feature of the body can aggravate the course of existing chronic pathologies, having a negative impact on the well-being and performance of a person.

If with mild meteosensitivity we are dealing mainly with subjective symptoms that affect mood more than well-being, then increased meteosensitivity already carries a certain danger due to the presence of objective symptoms. Dangerous symptoms can be considered an increase or decrease in blood pressure and heart rate. As a result, hypoxia of organs and tissues develops, which affects their performance.

Even subjective symptoms such as sleep disturbances, irritability, increased fatigue and migraines can negatively affect the quality of work performance, communication in the team and at home, which in turn can cause depression, dismissals, reprimands and scandals.

Against the background of increased weather sensitivity, the number of colds, myocardial infarctions, strokes, and hypertensive crises increases significantly.

[ 7 ], [ 8 ], [ 9 ]

Diagnostics weather sensitivity

It is not difficult to detect meteosensitivity in yourself; it is enough to establish the relationship between periodically appearing symptoms and changes in weather or climate conditions. However, it should be taken into account that symptoms of serious pathologies may be hidden behind the manifestations of meteosensitivity, which can only be identified by a consultation with a therapist and special examinations.

On the other hand, even if the diagnosis is not required to be clarified, the condition of patients during temperature and pressure changes, magnetic storms and high air humidity can deteriorate so much that it begins to cause certain concerns due to the high probability of complications of cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological pathologies. This means that it is necessary to take certain measures to prevent them.

Primary diagnostics of meteosensitivity consists of two areas: studying the history of meteosensitivity and establishing its connection with changes in weather conditions. With the first area, everything is clear, because it consists of studying the patient's complaints, their dependence on the change of season and weather (in the patient's opinion), measuring such parameters as blood pressure and pulse, conducting laboratory tests (a general blood test will show an increase in leukocytes). This part of the diagnostics takes 1-2 days and does not allow us to say with great certainty that the deterioration of the patient's health is associated with the weather.

The second direction of diagnostics is monitoring changes in the patient's condition over time and comparing the data obtained with meteorologists' information. All information is carefully recorded to determine the meteosensitivity index. This process is quite lengthy, but it allows us to establish meteosensitivity even in children and relatively healthy people with a hereditary predisposition. A meteotropic index of up to 2 is considered normal, for children this figure is lower - 1.5.

Based on the criteria of meteosensitivity, the doctor determines the degree of a person’s dependence on changes in weather conditions.

10 indicators of meteorological sensitivity used in diagnostics:

• history of weather sensitivity symptoms,
• subjective complaints of deterioration of health due to weather changes,
• the appearance of symptoms signaling possible changes in weather conditions (premonition),
• symptoms that appear without apparent cause: irritability and anxiety, rapid fatigue and decreased activity,
• mood swings, depressive states caused by adverse weather conditions,
• a certain set of symptoms that recur with changes in weather conditions,
• anxiety symptoms are short-term,
• the absence of objective reasons for deterioration of health or health pathologies with the same symptoms as weather instability,
• improvement of patients' condition on days characterized by stable weather,
• the simultaneous appearance of weather sensitivity symptoms in different people from the study group.

If a person has at least 4 or 5 criteria, we can talk about meteosensitivity; more than 5 criteria indicate meteopathia.

The nature of meteosensitivity (for example, the presence and degree of meteosensitivity or meteolability) can be determined using various tests, including a cold test (Gualterotti-Trompa test), based on the study of thermoregulation. When placing a hand in a cold environment until it reaches 10 degrees, the temperature of the limb under normal conditions (18-20 degrees) should be restored within 6 minutes. If this time is extended to 10 minutes, this can indicate a violation of adaptive abilities. In meteopaths, the recovery time is even more than 10 minutes.

Instrumental diagnostics is carried out only if there is a suspicion of a certain pathology, which is characterized by the patient's symptoms. Differential diagnostics is also carried out in this direction, which helps to distinguish the symptoms of meteosensitivity from the manifestations of existing health pathologies.

[ 10 ]

Treatment weather sensitivity

There is no and cannot be a clear answer to the questions of how to combat the body's increased sensitivity to weather changes and how to reduce meteosensitivity, because much depends on the degree of meteosensitivity, the cause of the alarming symptoms, the patient's age and the presence of chronic health pathologies. Therefore, the approach to treating meteosensitivity in different categories of people will be somewhat different.

For example, weather sensitivity in infants is most often a physiological or individual feature of the body, so the correction of the condition is carried out by normalizing nutrition and daily routine, massage and hardening procedures. Such a symptom as intestinal colic is fought with the help of dill water and nutritional correction. If the child is breastfed, the mother will have to reconsider her diet.

In older children, meteosensitivity therapy involves the following points:

• correction of daily routine,
• temporary refusal from computer games, television,
• avoiding large crowds and noisy events,
• frequent quiet walks in the fresh air,
• morning exercises and physical therapy classes,
• massage and hardening,
• swimming.

In case of meteorological neurosis, a consultation with a neurologist and sessions with a psychologist may be required.

If the cause of weather instability is some chronic or congenital pathology, it is necessary first of all to take all measures to eliminate it and stabilize the condition of the little patient.

In principle, the last point is relevant for patients of any age, since meteosensitivity against the background of various pathologies in the absence of their proper treatment will only increase, acquiring life-threatening forms.

Treatment of meteosensitivity in adult patients includes: exercise therapy, hardening procedures (air and sun baths, cold rubdowns, contrast showers, swimming in ponds or a pool, etc.) according to age and health condition. Regular walks in the fresh air, physical exercises that promote more complete saturation of the body with oxygen (fast walking, running, jumping, skiing, etc.), breathing exercises are also recommended, but it is better to refuse smoking, drinking alcohol, coffee and strong tea.

An important point in the treatment of meteosensitivity is the normalization of the psycho-emotional state and night rest. Any sleep disorders, be it insomnia, problems with falling asleep or sleep apnea, require a specialist consultation and appropriate treatment with sedatives and light sleeping pills on a plant basis.

Physiotherapeutic treatment is of great benefit in case of weather dependence. Electrosleep, mud therapy, medicinal baths (contrast and dry carbon dioxide) will definitely bring the desired relief.

In principle, you can take baths at home. In the presence of pronounced symptoms of meteosensitivity, baths with water temperature close to body temperature are recommended. The time of taking a bath is not limited.

With decreased performance and loss of strength, the bath should have a tonic character, which means its temperature should not be more than 20 ^o C (such baths should be practiced gradually accustoming your body to cold water and only in the absence of chronic pathologies). With increased sensitivity to cold, the temperature should not be lowered below 30 ^o C. The duration of the procedure is no more than 5 minutes. It is better to do it in the morning.

A warm bath with a water temperature of about 38 ^o C has a calming effect and is recommended before bedtime. Maintaining the bath temperature by adding hot water, the procedure can be carried out for 30-40 minutes.

Any medicinal baths are recommended to be taken in a course of 10, 12 or 15 procedures. To improve the effect, you can add pine extract, herbal decoctions with a sedative effect or aromatic oils (eucalyptus, lavender, fennel, rosemary, etc.) to the bath water.

For example, for patients with cardiovascular pathologies, doctors recommend a 3-week complex that includes:

• daily morning exercises, ending with rubbing with a damp towel (by the end of the course, the temperature of the water in which the towel is soaked should be reduced from 30 to 15 ^o C),
• walks in the fresh air (2-3 times a day for 1-1.5 hours),
• pine baths with the addition of salt (water temperature from 37 to 38 ^o C, procedure duration up to 20 minutes).

It is recommended to take this course twice a year: in March and October.

If you have increased weather sensitivity, it is recommended to review your diet, because excess weight is one of the risk factors for the development of weather dependence. This means you should avoid high-calorie foods, especially those that do not contain useful substances (fast food, sugar, sweets, most confectionery products, etc.). However, if you are in a sad mood or depressed, you can still treat yourself to a piece of dark chocolate, as an effective antidepressant.

During bad weather, it is better to avoid heavy, fatty foods that redistribute blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract to the detriment of the brain, which results in symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, and migraines. A dairy-vegetable diet with the addition of seafood is recommended.

But dishes made from fresh vegetables and fruits, cereals, dietary meat and fish, fermented milk products, eggs, vegetable oils are useful in any weather and in different climatic conditions, so they must be included in the diet, enriching your body with useful and nutritious substances.

Medicines for meteosensitivity

Since the development of meteosensitivity is based on a disorder of the body's adaptation to changes in the environment, the main drugs in this case will be adaptogens. Most often, they resort to the help of adaptogens of plant origin (tinctures of ginseng, Schisandra chinensis, golden root (radiola rosea), eleutherococcus, the drugs "Pantocrine" and "Apilak"), less often they use synthetic drugs in the form of tablets ("Metaprot", "Tomerzol", "Trekrezan", "Rantarin").

Such drugs have a general strengthening effect, stimulating the work of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, increase immunity, improve thermoregulation and metabolism, prevent respiratory diseases, and alleviate the condition of weather-sensitive people.

They should be taken in the recommended dosage, otherwise reactions of increased excitation of the nervous system are possible, threatening insomnia and irritability. Ginseng tincture should be taken 20-40 drops per dose, tincture of Schisandra fruits - 10-15 drops, tincture of golden root - from 2 to 10 drops, eleutherococcus extract - from 10 to 30 drops per dose. An effective dosage is established empirically. Frequency of administration - 2-3 times a day. The last intake of adaptogens should be carried out no later than 3 hours before bedtime.

When prescribing the above herbal preparations, the doctor must also take into account contraindications to their use:

• ginseng tincture - hypertension, CNS pathologies and increased excitability of the nervous system, mental disorders, hyperthyroidism, poor blood clotting,
• tincture of lemongrass fruits - acute infections, hypertension, cardiovascular pathologies, liver and central nervous system diseases, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, mental disorders and increased excitability of the central nervous system,
• golden root tincture - hypertension, mental disorders due to increased excitability of the central nervous system, fever, autoimmune pathologies,
• Eleutherococcus extract – myocardial infarction, acute infections, purulent inflammations, autoimmune and mental illnesses, CNS pathologies, epilepsy, hypertension, brain diseases.

Any of these drugs are not prescribed if a person has hypersensitivity to the components of the drug. The appearance of such side effects as allergic reactions, increased excitability, sleep disorders, discomfort and pain in the chest, increased blood pressure, shortness of breath, nasal congestion and runny nose, nausea, heart rhythm disturbances, hot flashes requires contacting a doctor to review the treatment.

"Pantocrine" is another natural preparation with a general strengthening effect, improving the adaptive properties of the body. In pharmacies, it can be found in the form of a tincture or tablets based on an extract of red deer antlers.

The drug is taken in the form of tablets, 1-2 pcs. 2 or 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. The liquid extract is used for oral administration and intramuscular injections in the dosage prescribed by the doctor.

The drug is not prescribed for hypertension, obvious vascular atherosclerosis, cardiac pathologies, increased excitability of the central nervous system, nephritis, diarrhea, oncological pathologies, increased blood viscosity, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as in case of hypersensitivity to the drug.

"Metaprot" is one of the synthetic adaptogens that increases the body's resistance to damaging factors (stress, hyperthermia, oxygen starvation, etc.).

An effective dose is 1-2 capsules. The drug should be taken in this dosage 2 times a day for 5 days, then take a two-day break. The number of courses can vary from 2 to 5.

The drug is not prescribed for hypertension, epilepsy, glaucoma, low blood sugar, liver dysfunction, arrhythmia, lactose intolerance and other components of the drug. Not intended for use in pediatrics. Do not use during pregnancy and lactation.

As a preventive measure against meteosensitivity, meteosensitive people are recommended to undergo a 3-week therapeutic course 4 times a year, aimed at improving blood microcirculation and correcting its coagulability. For this purpose, it is recommended to take the following medications in combination 1 or 2 times a day:

• ascorbic acid - 0.1 g
• acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) – 0.25 g
• potassium chloride - 0.5 g
• rutin (vitamin P) – 0.04 g.

If meteosensitivity is caused by various health pathologies, the doctor will prescribe medications in parallel that will help, if not cure the disease, then at least reduce its symptoms (for example, vasodilators for hypertension or antiarrhythmic drugs for heart rhythm disorders).

Weakening of the body's adaptive and protective properties often results from a lack of vitamins, so if necessary, the doctor prescribes vitamin or vitamin-mineral complexes that contain, in addition to vitamins, calcium, potassium, and iron.

Surgical treatment for meteosensitivity is not performed. An exception may be cases when meteosensitivity develops against the background of cardiovascular pathologies. But again, the operation is performed according to indications related to the underlying disease, and not to meteosensitivity.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine also does not stand aside from the problem of meteosensitivity and meteolability, because many plants and products have the ability to increase immunity and improve the body's adaptation to changing weather conditions.

Foods such as garlic, onion and lemon not only protect us from colds, but also stimulate blood circulation, reducing sensitivity to the weather.

For those who tend to anticipate weather changes, recipes such as green tea with cranberries and lemon or milk with mint and honey will come in handy. These simple and tasty drinks will help you survive any changes in temperature and pressure more easily.

By the way, regarding honey, not everyone knows that it is one of the best natural adaptogens. However, it is true. Honey has a positive effect on the functioning of the nervous system and the condition of blood vessels, which means it is a universal medicine for weather dependence.

It is best to use honeycomb from linden and buckwheat, as well as such bee products as propolis and royal jelly (by the way, the drug "Apilak" was created on the basis of the latter). However, these products are strong allergens, and also have some contraindications, so before you start taking them, you must consult with your doctor.

Herbal treatment also plays an important role in the treatment of meteosensitivity. It is not for nothing that even official medicine recognizes tinctures of eleutherococcus, ginseng, pink radiola, magnolia vine and other plants that have the property of increasing the body's adaptive properties as medicinal products. In case of meteosensitivity and meteolability, herbs such as sweet clover (its infusion reduces blood pressure), black elderberry (fruit juice helps to endure magnetic storms more easily), elecampane (an alcohol tincture of the plant's roots is used during magnetic storms and pressure drops) will be useful.

If you feel worse before or during a change in weather, taking an alcohol tincture of 2 plants will help: celandine and calendula. For half a liter of vodka or alcohol, take one tablespoon of calendula flowers and half a teaspoon of crushed celandine herb. Infuse for 1.5 months in a dark, cool place. Take the medicine 2 times a day, dissolving 10 drops of the tincture in a glass of water.

Homeopathy

By the way, many homeopathic remedies also have the ability to alleviate the condition of people with weather sensitivity. You only need to read the annotation to them.

Deterioration of a person's condition with a change in weather is one of the indications for the use of Actea spicata, Alumen, Cimicifuga. Baryta carbonica is prescribed if the symptoms of meteosensitivity are associated with increased air humidity. Dulcamara will be useful in case of deterioration of health caused by a change in weather to cold and damp.

For headaches caused by weather dependence, Gelsemium will be useful. But Natrium carbonicum is indicated for the same symptoms if they are caused by heat. It will also prevent colds.

Meteorological sensitivity and meteolability associated with temperature changes can be treated with the help of the medicines Physostigma and Ranunculus bulbosus. But to cope with the premonition of bad weather or a storm, the homeopathic medicines Rhododendron and Psorinum will help.

As for the dosage of the above-described drugs, there are no general recommendations here and there cannot be any. Homeopathic drugs have their own characteristics. Their effect depends not so much on the patient's age as on the constitutional and psychophysical characteristics of his body. Only a homeopathic doctor can select both the appropriate medicine and an effective dosage.

Prevention

Perhaps, someone thinks that such a feature of the body as meteosensitivity cannot be corrected, which means that a person will have to feel any changes in weather conditions in the most unpleasant way all his life and take a bunch of medications to relieve various symptoms of a pathology called meteolability. This opinion is erroneous, since following certain rules and timely treatment of chronic pathologies will help reduce sensitivity to weather changes to a minimum.

Everyone knows that in most cases it is easier to prevent a disease than to treat it. This is very true in relation to such disorders in the body as increased meteosensitivity and meteolability. To avoid the occurrence of such disorders, it is enough to:

• it is imperative to treat any disease, preventing it from becoming chronic,
• take care of strengthening the immune system,
• eat only healthy and, if possible, light food,
• love sports,
• move more and strengthen your body,
• while working at the computer, take 15-minute breaks every hour to rest, during which go outside into the fresh air (the same is recommended for people engaged in heavy physical labor),
• forget about bad habits, including overeating,
• learn to calmly endure stressful situations,
• be outdoors as often as possible,
• adjust your daily routine so that rest corresponds to physical activity during the day,
• If possible, go out into nature for a few days several times a year, away from the hustle and bustle of the city and dust.

If it is too late to talk about preventing meteosensitivity, you can stabilize your condition by taking certain measures on the eve of bad weather, which can be learned from signal symptoms or from weather forecasters. For example, having learned about approaching magnetic storms, anticyclones or rainy weather, you should reduce physical activity and adjust your diet towards light plant foods.

If a person takes medications for an underlying disease, it may be worthwhile to slightly increase their dosage or frequency of administration during this period, but this should only be done with the permission of the attending physician. If you feel worse, you should put your feet in cool water for a while and sit and relax.

Hardening and taking herbal adaptogens have a good preventive effect, but it is always worth remembering that such treatment is not suitable for people with high blood pressure and acute infectious pathologies. Sedatives based on medicinal herbs are better suited for them.

[ 11 ], [ 12 ]

Forecast

The forecast of meteosensitivity and meteolability depends entirely on the patient's desire to be healthy and happy. It is clear that it is almost impossible to cure chronic diseases, which means that meteosensitivity against their background will remain a feature of the body for many years. But it is always possible to take specific measures so that the underlying disease remains in remission as long as possible, monitoring changes in weather conditions and preventing the appearance of unpleasant symptoms.