The health and mental state of a person depends on many factors. One of them is the climate, it is he who has a huge impact on the human body. In this article, we will look at how climate affects people.
When climate impact is noticeable
The most obvious effect occurs in the following cases:
- A sharp change in weather. Sudden strong winds, thunderstorms or cooling cause a change in health status. In people stronger, the state of health is practically not felt worse, but in cores, hypertensive patients, diabetics severe headaches begin, pressure rises up to a hypertensive crisis, there may be a heart attack.
- Moving over long distances. Climate and people are closely interconnected. For example, when the inhabitants of the north come to rest on the sea, for some time they feel not too good because of the sea air, the hot sun and other factors. Doctors do not recommend traveling long distances to people with chronic diseases.
Many believe that if you live in one place for a long time, then over time the body adapts, and all influence ceases, but in fact it is not. Climatic conditions affect a person constantly. For some this is a beneficial effect, for others it is detrimental. It all depends on the individual characteristics of each.
What is climate
This is not only a combination of hot and cold days in a year, not only the average daily temperature or the amount of rainfall. These are meteorological phenomena, as well as terrestrial and solar radiation, a magnetic field, landscape, electricity generated by the atmosphere. The impact of climate on humans is due to a combination of these factors.
Scientific approach
Even in ancient times in India and Tibet, conclusions were drawn about how different weather conditions, such as the sun, rain, thunderstorms, affect well-being. In these countries, to this day, they are studying how climate affects people. For treatment, techniques that are closely related to the seasons or the weather are preserved. Already in the 460s, Hippocrates wrote in his treatises that weather and health have a direct relationship with each other.
The development and progression of some diseases is not uniform throughout the year. All doctors know that in winter and autumn, an exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases occurs. A more scientific approach to this issue was carried out in the 19th century, when prominent scientists of the time - Pavlov, Sechenov and others - studied how climate affects people in the Petersburg Academy of Sciences. They conducted medical experiments, analyzed the available information and came to the conclusion that some epidemics appear and are especially difficult to proceed precisely depending on climatic conditions. Thus, an outbreak of West Nile fever was recorded twice in Russia during an abnormally warm winter. Already in our time, these observations have been repeatedly confirmed.
Types of Interaction
There are two types of climate effects on the body: direct and indirect. The first is directly related to climatic conditions, and its results are easily distinguishable. This can be observed on the processes of heat transfer of a person and the environment, as well as on the skin, sweating, blood circulation and metabolism.
The indirect effect of climate on humans is longer. These are changes in his body that occur after a certain period of stay in a particular natural zone. One example of this effect is climate adaptation. Many climbers experience painful sensations and breathing problems when climbing high altitudes. However, they pass with frequent climbs or with a certain adaptation program.
The effect of high temperatures on the human body
A hot climate, especially tropical with high humidity is a very aggressive environment in terms of the impact on the human body. This is primarily due to increased heat transfer. At high temperature, it rises 5-6 times. This leads to the fact that the receptors transmit signals to the brain, and the blood begins to circulate much faster, during which time the expansion of blood vessels occurs. If such measures are not enough to maintain heat balance, then profuse sweating begins. Most often, people affected by heart disease suffer from the heat. Doctors confirm that a hot summer is the time when most heart attacks occur, and an exacerbation of chronic cardiovascular diseases is also observed.
You should also know how the climate affects people living in the tropics. They have a thin physique, more sinewy structure. In the inhabitants of Africa, one can observe elongated limbs. Among residents of hot countries, people with large body fat are less common. In general, the population of these countries is “smaller” than that which lives in natural areas where the climate is temperate.
The effect on the well-being of lower temperatures
For those who fall into the northern regions or constantly live there, a decrease in heat transfer is observed. This is achieved by slowing blood circulation and narrowing of blood vessels. The normal reaction of the body is to achieve a balance between heat transfer and heat generation, and if this does not happen, then the temperature of the body gradually decreases, the functions of the body are suppressed, mental disorder occurs, the result of this is cardiac arrest. An important role in the normal functioning of the body where a cold climate plays a lipid metabolism. Northerners have a much faster and easier metabolism, so you need to constantly replenish energy losses. For this reason, their main diet is fats and proteins.
Residents of the north have a larger physique and a significant layer of subcutaneous fat, which prevents heat loss. But not all people are able to adapt normally to the cold if a sharp change in climate occurs. Typically, the work of the defense mechanism in such people leads to the fact that they develop a "polar disease". To avoid the difficulties of adapting to the cold, you need to take large amounts of vitamin C.
Climate Change
Weather and health have a direct and very close relationship with each other. In regions characterized by a gradual change in weather conditions, people are less likely to experience these transitions. It is believed that the middle lane has the most favorable climate for health. Because where the change of seasons occurs very sharply, most people suffer from rheumatic reactions, pain in places of old injuries, headaches associated with pressure drops.
However, there is a flip side to the coin. A temperate climate does not contribute to the development of rapid adaptation to the new environment. Few people from the middle strip are able to get used to the sharp changes in ambient temperature without any problems, immediately adapt to the hot air and bright sun of the south. They often suffer from headaches, burn faster in the sun and get used to new conditions longer.
Interesting Facts
The fact that climate and people are inextricably linked is confirmed by the following facts:
- Residents of the south are more likely to endure cold where locals can walk without putting on a lot of clothing.
- When the inhabitants of arid areas fall into a tropical area, where the water literally stands in the air, they begin to hurt.
- The heat and high humidity make people from the middle strip and northern regions lethargic, painful and lethargic, it becomes difficult to breathe, and also sweating increases significantly.
Temperature fluctuations
Temperature changes are a serious test for health. Particularly painful is the change of climate for the child. What happens in the body during sharp fluctuations in temperature?
A very cold climate provokes excessive arousal, while at the same time heat, on the contrary, plunges a person into a state of apathy. The change of these two states depends on how fast the temperature changes. With a sharp cooling or warming, chronic problems are exacerbated, cardiovascular diseases develop. Only with a smooth transition from low to high temperatures and vice versa does the body manage to adapt.
Height is also unsafe
Humidity and pressure changes are also important. This primarily affects thermoregulation. Cold air cools the body, while hot air, on the contrary, is what skin receptors react to accordingly. Very well, this effect is noticeable when climbing into the mountains, where climatic conditions, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and air temperature change with every ten meters.
Already at an altitude of 300 meters, hyperventilation of the lungs begins due to the fact that the wind and low oxygen content in the air interfere with normal breathing. Blood circulation is accelerated, because the body is trying to disperse an insufficient amount of oxygen in all cells. With increasing height, these processes are further enhanced, a large number of red blood cells and hemoglobin appear in the blood.
At high altitudes, where there is a low oxygen content and stronger solar radiation, a person's metabolism is significantly enhanced. This can slow down the development of metabolic diseases. However, a sharp change in height can have a detrimental effect. That is why many people are recommended rest and treatment in sanatoriums at moderate heights, where there is higher pressure and cleaner air, but at the same time there is enough oxygen in it. In the last century, many tuberculosis patients were sent to such sanatoriums or places with a dry climate.
Protective gear
With frequent changes in natural conditions, the human body builds up something like a barrier over time, so no significant changes are observed. Adaptation is quick and relatively painless, regardless of the direction of travel and how the temperature changes dramatically with climate change.
Climbers experience great congestion on the peaks, which can become fatal. Therefore, they take special oxygen cylinders with them, while local residents who have been living high above sea level from birth do not have such problems.
The mechanism of climate protection is currently unclear to scientists.
Seasonal fluctuations
The effect of seasonal changes is also important. Healthy people practically do not react to them, the body itself adapts to a certain time of the year and continues to work optimally for it. But people who have chronic ailments or injuries can react painfully to the transition from one season to another. At the same time, everyone has a change in the speed of mental reactions, the work of the endocrine glands, as well as the rate of heat transfer. These changes are quite normal and are not deviations, so people do not notice them.
Meteorological dependence
Some people are particularly sensitive to changes in temperature and climate, this phenomenon is called meteopathy, or meteorological dependence. There can be many reasons for this: individual characteristics of the body, weakened immunity due to the disease. However, they may experience symptoms such as increased drowsiness and powerlessness, sore throat, runny nose, dizziness, inability to concentrate, shortness of breath and nausea.
In order to overcome these problems, it is necessary to analyze your condition and identify what specific changes cause these symptoms. After that, you can try to cope with them. First of all, a healthy lifestyle contributes to the normalization of the general condition. It includes: prolonged sleep, proper nutrition, walks in the fresh air, moderate physical activity.
To combat the heat and dryness of the air, you can use fresheners and conditioners, it helps to drink plenty. Be sure to eat fresh fruits and meat.
Climatic changes during pregnancy
Often meteorological dependence can occur in pregnant women, who until then quite calmly experienced the change of seasons or weather.
Pregnant women are not recommended to make long trips or long trips. In an "interesting" position, the body is already under stress from hormonal changes, in addition, most of the useful substances are given to the fetus, and not to the female body. For these reasons, the additional burden of adapting to a new climate while traveling is completely useless.
The impact of climate on the children's body
Children are also keenly responsive to climate change. But here everything happens a little differently than in adults. A child’s body, in principle, adapts to any conditions much faster, so a healthy child does not experience big problems when changing the season or climate.
The main problem with climate change is not in the process of adaptation, but in the reaction of the child himself. Any climate change causes certain processes in the human body. And if adults are able to adequately respond to them, for example, hide in the shade in the heat or put on hats, then the children’s sense of self-preservation is not so developed. Body signals in adults will lead to certain measures, the child will ignore them. For this reason, during a climate change, adults should carefully monitor the condition of the baby.
Because children are more sensitive to different climatic changes, there is a whole section in medicine - climatotherapy. Doctors who practice this treatment, without the help of drugs, can achieve significant improvements in the health of the child.
The most beneficial effect on the children's body has a marine or mountain climate. Sea salt water, sunbathing have a beneficial effect on his mental state, and also enhance overall health and promote the production of vitamin D.
In order to achieve a certain effect, the child needs to spend at least four weeks at the resort, this period is considered optimal. In severe forms of chronic diseases or pathologies, the sanatorium period can take several months. Most often, treatment in sea and mountainous areas is used for children with rickets, respiratory and skin diseases, and mental disorders.
Climate Impact on Older Persons
Elderly people are a category that needs to be especially attentive to climate change or travel. This is primarily due to the fact that elderly people often suffer from diseases of the cardiovascular system, as well as the musculoskeletal system. A sharp change in climate can adversely affect their well-being and the course of these diseases. In the summer, seizures most often occur, namely the mortality of the elderly.
The second factor is the speed of adaptation, as well as habits. If a young and healthy person needs five to seven days to adapt to a new climate, then in older people these periods are significantly increased, and the body is not always able to adequately respond to changes in temperature, humidity or pressure. This is the risk of travel of the elderly.
A sharp change in the climate zone will certainly entail a change in time zone and the duration of the day and night. These changes are difficult to tolerate even by healthy people, not to mention the elderly. Insomnia is one of the most innocent problems of older people.
Health effects of different climatic zones
The marine climate has a beneficial effect on people with disorders of the nervous system. Cool air does not cause irritation, there is rarely a sharp change in temperature near the sea, it is warmer there in winter and cooler in summer. In addition, the sea scatters solar radiation, and the ability to enjoy a large open space has a positive effect on the eyes and soothes nerves.
The mountain climate, on the contrary, serves to stimulate nervous activity and increase working capacity. This is due to high pressure, frequent temperature changes, when during the day you can sunbathe and at night you have to escape from frostbite. A quick change of day and night plays its role, because in the mountains this process is almost invisible. Very often, people engaged in creative activities go to the mountains to draw inspiration.
The northern climate, where it is constantly cold and there is no particular variety of landscapes, tempers not only character, but also human health. Scientists have proved that people who are constantly in places with a cold climate are more resistant to various diseases, including chronic ones. .