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Weather Are you “meteorosensitive”? This is how the time change affects you
The change of time from Saturday to Sunday morning brings with it an adjustment of the biological clock that affects some people more than others
El Time change This morning implies that, from now on, it will dawn earlier, but it also means that it will dusk earlier. This is something that, if coupled with the decrease in daylight hours that will occur during these months, can affect health, especially people who are classified as “meteorosensitive”, according to the meteorologist and Physics doctor. from eltiempo.es, Mar Gómez.
A person «meteorosensible» It is one that experiences discomfort or symptoms related to meteorological changes such as headaches, mood changes or muscle and joint problems. As explained by 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 affect these people are variations in presión, temperature y moisture, as well as changes in the winds that produce variations and alterations in atmospheric electricity. Although they are also affected by episodes of pollution 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 those symptoms of that meteorosensitivity increase in episodes of migraines (if the person suffers from this ailment) in the face of high pressures, the bone-ache in the event of sudden drops in temperature or joint and muscle problems when there is a sudden change in humidity conditions.
How does the time change affect you?
In the specific case of the influence that the change of time can have on this type of people, the expert explains that the decrease in the number of hours of light usually affects them a lot. «When winter approaches and the hours of light are scarce, the seasonal affective disorder, which can affect 15% of the population and is marked by a lower mood, loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed, decreased energy, changes in appetite, difficulty concentrating or problems for sleeping. If we add to this that the sunset will occur even earlier due to the time change, the number of hours of natural light when our working day ends is notably reduced. In many cases, in fact, it becomes non-existent “, argues the expert.
The key is that the reduction in daylight hours produces a decrease in the levels of Serotonin, a brain chemical related to mood. Besides, the melatonin, which is the hormone involved in the natural sleep cycle, can be altered.
The recommendations go through a progressive adaptation, slowly changing the time of meals and dinners, adjusting the time to go to bed and avoiding compensating the jet lag by sleeping the day after the time change. Of course, experts clarify that the effects do not usually last more than a couple of weeks.