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Are you meteorosensitive? This is how heat affects your mood
Psychology
Tiredness, apathy and bad mood are some of the symptoms suffered by people with meteorosensitivity to high temperatures
Heat affects us all. In fact, most people show signs of fatigue and at apathy when temperatures rise. However, there are other people called meteorosensitive people who, in addition to that exhaustion and reluctance, can feel moody for no apparent reason. As Fernando Miralles, professor of the Degree in Psychology at CEU San Pablo University points out, these negative symptoms manifested by meteorosensitive people are aggravated when, in addition to excessive heat, there is humidity and hot wind. “It is then when they manifest inattention, a more impatient and impulsive character and mood swings,” he reveals.
Furthermore, this year it is appreciated, as acknowledged by Professor Miralles, that meteorosensitive people are undergoing these changes.
negative behavior in a more accentuated way, since almost the entire population is with higher levels of anxiety due to the effects of the pandemic that we are suffering. «This summer, meteorosensitive people should be more careful with the negative effects caused by high temperatures, take better care of themselves and, if they see it necessary, go to a clinical psychology center, where they will be taught techniques to reduce anxiety and be more aware of their behavioral changes ”, explains the specialist.
To this must be added the physical effects because the strong heat waves cause people to suffer vasodilation, profuse sweating, loss of fluids and electrolytes through the skin, lack of sleep and, on some occasions, almost no rest.
Signs that I am meteorosensitive
A meteorosensitive person often experiences discomfort or symptoms related to weather changes such as headaches, mood swings, or muscle and joint problems. According to the meteorologist and doctor in Physics at eltiempo.es, Mar Gómez, it is estimated that approximately 30% of the population can be. “We can determine whether or not we are meteorosensitive when we observe that certain weather changes produce effects on our mental or physical health,” the meteorologist clarifies.
The meteorological phenomena that most often affect these people are variations in pressure, temperature and humidity, as well as changes in the winds that produce variations and alterations in atmospheric electricity. Although they are also affected by pollution episodes or the Foehn effect (a phenomenon that occurs when a mass of hot and humid air is forced to ascend a mountain. When the air descends, it does so with less humidity and with more temperature).
Some of these symptoms of this meteorosensitivity are the increase in episodes of migraines (if the person suffers from this ailment) due to high pressure, bone pain due to sudden drops in temperature or joint and muscle problems when there is a sudden change in humidity conditions.
How to relieve the effects of heat
To combat these problems, Professor Miralles advises eating low-calorie foods, avoiding alcohol, resting longer than normal hours (especially in the hottest hours) and lying down. nap, reduce physical activity, wear light clothing and, above all, do not expose yourself directly to the sun and drink plenty of fluids.
When it comes to hydrating, it is advisable to consume healthy shakes and smoothies, homemade soft drinks, cold infusions, non-alcoholic drinks of sparkling water, fruit slushies and seasonal fruits and vegetables, whose nutrients and their high content in water helps fight the effects of heat.
To promote a night’s rest, it will be useful to previously ventilate the rooms and wear light cotton clothing, which favors perspiration.
The positive part of being more sensitive
The adverse effects for meteorosensitive people associated with the arrival of summer occur especially when temperatures are extreme, but it is also true that when heat is limited and adverse conditions, summer is the time of year in which the General mood is more positive and we become more outgoing and tolerant. Thus, according to the CEU professor, it is precisely in the spring and summer seasons when meteorosensitive ones are more active and cheerful, compared to their more depressed tone due to the lack of light during autumn and winter. “Leaving work in the summer and having daylight increases the feeling of joy, unlike what happens in winter when in many cases we go in and out of work with hardly any sunlight, which makes us feel very worse ”, argues.