Many people acknowledge the weather's impact on their moods, but could it affect your energy levels? Among fibromyalgia patients, studies show that weather sensitivity can significantly decrease quality of life. The same is true for many people who experience increased fatigue and inflammatory pain when the weather changes for the worse.
January in Oregon is full of cloudy days, cold weather, and the occasional snow. Amplified fatigue or physical discomfort during the year's first month probably isn’t just in your head. You can thank these weather changes.
Although research about the connections between weather and weariness is still ongoing, Laika Rodriguez, ND, can provide personalized naturopathic care at Salem Wellness Clinic in Salem, Oregon, to help you feel better.
If the clouds and cold give you the urge to get cozy and hunker down, we can help. In this article, we’ll discuss the science behind your wintertime exhaustion.
Barometric pressure and its influence
The rain or snow outside isn’t directly influencing your energy levels and wellness. But this type of weather comes with barometric pressure changes that can affect how you feel. Barometric pressure refers to the weight or pressure of the air around you. Your altitude and the humidity also affect barometric pressure.
Cold and cloudy weather lowers the barometric pressure. It reduces your blood oxygen levels and your blood pressure. If you have diabetes, low barometric pressure can also increase your blood viscosity. Collectively, these changes can slow you down and cause fatigue.
A drop in barometric pressure also increases the pressure difference in your sinuses versus the outside world. This is why you might feel a lot of pressure in your face and head when the weather is poor. Along with fatigue, many people report headaches, inflammation, and joint pain in cold and wet weather.
High barometric pressure, associated with clear skies and sunny weather, also brings challenges. Some people experience blood pressure increases and a higher risk of heart attacks when the barometric pressure is high.
Tips for staying energized in the winter weather
Overcoming fatigue can be challenging in the winter, but it’s possible. You won’t need to take medications to alleviate your fatigue. Instead, you can do it naturally with naturopathic care. Simply follow Dr. Rodriguez’s recommendations for optimizing your health and restoring equilibrium in your body.
Lowering inflammation in your body is the main objective of treating fatigue with healthy habit changes. Salem Wellness Clinic offers helpful guidance for:
- Optimizing your diet
- Getting quality sleep at night
- Doing restful activities during the day
- Integrating exercise into your routine
- Managing stress
- Identifying and addressing nutrient imbalances
- Balancing your hormones
Optimizing your health benefits makes you more resilient against the influences you can’t control.
If you’re feeling extra drowsy this January, Salem Wellness Clinic can help. Call the office or book an appointment online to restore your energy today.
FAQs
A drop in barometric pressure also increases the pressure difference in your sinuses versus the outside world. This is why you might feel a lot of pressure in your face and head when the weather is poor. Along with fatigue, many people report headaches, inflammation, and joint pain in cold and wet weather.
Can barometric pressure cause tiredness? ›
When the pressure drops, it can cause a decrease in oxygen and blood flow to the brain, leading to headaches. Fatigue: Low barometric pressure can cause fatigue and lethargy, particularly in people who are sensitive to changes in pressure. This is because low pressure can cause a decrease in oxygen levels in the body.
How does barometric pressure affect your body? ›
Barometric pressure often drops before bad weather. Lower air pressure pushes less against the body, allowing tissues to expand. Expanded tissues can put pressure on joints and cause pain. Dr.
What is considered low barometric pressure? ›
Barometric pressure range
A barometric reading over 30.20 inHg is generally considered high, and high pressure is associated with clear skies and calm weather. A barometric reading below 29.80 inHg is generally considered low, and low pressure is associated with warm air and rainstorms.
Why am I so sensitive to barometric pressure? ›
Some people may be more sensitive to weather changes experiencing more stiffness, pain, and swelling with a barometric pressure decline. Scientists suggest that a fall in air pressure allows the tissues (including muscles and tendons) to swell or expand.
Can weather change cause lethargy? ›
The weather can have as long reaching effects. Increased pain can lead to sleep disturbances; lack of sleep can lead to fatigue and an overall sense of lethargy. Increased pain in the joints can make sitting, standing and walking more painful for some people.
How do you relieve barometric pressure symptoms? ›
Some people can manage symptoms with over-the-counter (OTC) medications, like:
- acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- ibuprofen (Advil)
- Excedrin, which is a combination drug that includes acetaminophen, caffeine, and aspirin.
The ideal barometric pressure typically falls between 29 and 31 inHg. This barometric pressure is comfortable for most people and will possibly allow them to live with less joint pain, especially if the area they reside in does not fluctuate rapidly throughout the day or week with barometric pressure readings.
Why does my body hurt when barometric pressure is low? ›
It's believed that changes in barometric pressure — which happen as weather systems change — trigger these sensations in the joints. Less air pressure surrounding the body can allow muscles, tendons, and other tissues around joints to expand. This can place pressure on joints, possibly leading to pain.
How do I become less sensitive to barometric pressure? ›
As barometric pressure falls, people who suffer from migraine headaches will often sense it and become stressed. Stress hormones also can provoke a headache. Managing stress through exercise, lifestyle changes, deep breathing or relaxation techniques will help ward it off. Drink more water.
Changes in Barometric Pressure
Low barometric pressure may irritate sensitive nerves and cause tissues in your body to swell. It makes your muscles, tendons, and any scar tissue contract and expand, creating pain in the joints.
How do you treat weather sensitivity? ›
Coping Strategies for Weather-Related Symptom Flare-Ups
- Layer Clothing: Dressing in layers during cold weather helps retain body heat and prevents temperature-related discomfort.
- Stay Warm: Use heating pads, warm blankets, and heated clothing to maintain warmth and improve circulation during cold spells.
The lowest sea-level air pressure ever recorded was 870 mb (25.69 in. Hg) measured on October 12, 1979 in the eye of Typhoon Tip as it moved over Guam.
What is the ideal barometric pressure for humans? ›
Know what represents reasonable barometer readings
Normal is 29.9; range ~29.6 - 30.2 inches Hg (752-767 mm Hg)… at SEA LEVEL! Rarely (at sea level) do readings exceed 30.4 inches Hg (773 mm Hg)…
Does low barometric pressure make you sleepy? ›
Low barometric pressure at high altitudes also causes lower oxygen saturation. Although the effect of this isn't as stark as changing altitude, it can still make you drowsy. But just because you're drowsy, it doesn't mean you'll sleep easier. That's because, with less oxygen, we find it more difficult to breathe.
Does the weather really affect your body? ›
“Temperature changes, humidity, and air pressure all affect the human body's state of equilibrium,” says Nour Elassa, DO, a primary care physician with Atlantic Health System. “Major weather shifts can stress our body and challenge our immune system – especially in people who are more prone to certain health issues.”
Can the weather affect energy? ›
For example, during extremely hot weather it will take more energy and power to convert natural gas and coal into electricity. As a result, power plants raise their rates to make up for this decrease in efficiency. Extreme weather can also slow down the power generation process.
Can weather make you feel off? ›
Prolonged heat and humidity can take a toll on you, as can endless days of rain and the bitter cold during the winter months. Less-than-pleasant weather that drags on (and on and on) can complicate outdoor plans, make traffic miserable and, honestly, feel like it's starting to affect your overall well-being.
Can climate change make you tired? ›
Temperatures are also likely to rise in many places as the climate changes. Exposure to extreme or prolonged heat can cause exhaustion, heat stroke, kidney and heart disease, and pregnancy complications. In fact, extreme heat is already the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States.
