Do your joints hurt when a storm's coming?

You have the change in barometric pressure to

thank though your joints aren't the only part of your body affected by the weather.
In fact, the weather's impact on your body and the natural world is so varied, there's a whole
scientific study devoted to it: biometeorology. It's a small, but diverse field of atmospheric
scientists who study how and why the weather impacts animals, plants and humans. From
changing symptoms of existing diseases, contributing to new conditions and prompting
temporary physiological changes inside your body, the weather's effect on your health is far-
reaching.
(MORE: How Climate Change Already Affects Your Health)
But figuring out what exactly specific weather events do to the body is an imprecise science
that's still developing, particularly when it comes to pain and emotional health, Grady Dixon,
Ph.D., an associate professor in the department of geosciences at Mississippi State University,
said in an interview with Weather.com.
"When weather changes, it's not often just one variable that changes," he said. "Is a change in
temperature that's affecting a person well-being? Or is it the change in wind or cloud cover? It's
hard to figure out which change is affecting humans, and because we're largely relying on
human perceptions, trying to quantify how these changes affect humans is another challenge."
As climate change continues to impact human health, Dixon said he believes this study will
become more important. Dixon studies climate, weather and emotional health and suicide and
said that his discipline is moving closer to a space where scientists believe they will be able to
predict some human behavior based on weather patterns.
Some things, however, we know are impacted by the weather and why. One of the biggest?
Blood pressure. As changing pressure systems change your blood pressure, a host of health
consequences can follow, Jennifer Vanos, an assistant professor in the department
of geosciences at Texas Tech, said in an interview with Weather.com.
Above, find out what they are, plus more ways the weather affects your body.
Every area of the country is vulnerable to the effects of climate change, according to Dr. George
Luber, associate director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions climate and
health program.
Some effects are already noticeable. For example, you might be surprised to learn that climate
change plays a role in health conditions such as asthma and allergies.

Luber said that public health officials need to be equipped to respond to the variety of health
issues affected by climate change. Already, the CDC has rolled out a program for climate-ready
states and cities. There are 16 states and two cities that [the CDC] funds to work through the
BRACE process Building Resistance Against Climate Effects, Luber said. We engage climate
scientists and local public health officials to anticipate, predict and prepare for large climate
events.
Here are a few examples of the short-term effects of climate change that may already be
affecting your health no matter where you live in the country plus a look at more severe
trends on the way, according to Luber and the CDC.
How the Weather Affects Your Health
by Manfred Kaiser
Do you feel tired or exhausted? Do you suffer from a headache? Why don't you blame the
weather? Millions claim that the weather literally gets onto their nerves - and rightly so.
Whether we like it or not, you and I are part of nature. We are not robots but biological beings,
evolved over millions of years. Despite technology's great efforts to detach us from nature, we
are still subject to it, including the weather. Just because there is only limited scientific proof
that weather sensitivity exists doesn't mean that you are wrong and doesn't mean that the
medical profession should dismiss your plight as a psychological disorder. The sheer number of
worldwide sufferers won't be ignored any longer and science is slowly catching up.
A weather-sensitive person reacts with varying intensity to changes in weather elements, such
as air pressure, temperature and humidity. These changes can affect a person's well-being
and may worsen the symptoms of existing disorders, in particular pain. Some of the effects
are: increased irritability and aggressiveness, anxiety, depression, listlessness, fatigue, lack of
concentration, sleep disorders, headache and migraine, heart and circulation irregularities,
nausea, dizziness, scar pain or phantom pain, and rheumatic pain.
The symptoms vary from person to person and their intensity generally increases with age,
lower level of fitness and a body weakened due to illness. Of course, they can also mask or be
the result of an underlying disorder that has nothing to do with weather. Therefore, see your
doctor if uncertain of the cause.
When my grandfather's rheumatic knee hurts; we will get rain. Many people trust their hips
and knees and forecast the weather almost as accurately as can the meteorologists with their
supercomputers. But why do some people respond to weather and others don't?
Rapid and frequent weather changes appear to be the main culprits. Weather-sensitive people
become irritated a day or two before the change and are often miserable when a weather front
arrives. The conditions favor childbirth, so a greater number of babies have their first glimpses
of their parents during those weather conditions. Cases of suicides, heart attacks, bleeding
ulcers, headaches and migraines all increase. Rheumatics dread the arrival of cold and damp
weather, while cold and dry air aggravates asthma symptoms. Expanding air in isolated body
cavities may explain some weather-sensitivity symptoms. The weather fronts have something
for everybody, it seems.
Some scientists take a different approach in their quest to solve the puzzle. They believe that
electromagnetic impulses have an effect on our well-being. Natural electromagnetism, strong
enough to cause weather sensitivity, is present in lightning-induced atmospherics (sferics) and
charged particles (ions).
What can you do about weather sensitivity? It is likely that we all benefit from the frequent
stimulation of changing weather. The modern lifestyle, with air conditioners, humidifiers and
heaters, however, blunts the weather 'shocks'. In other words, we are no longer trained to
cope with weather stress. Therefore, the best advice is to harden your senses by exposing
them to the elements. Spend more time outdoors, in all kinds of weather. European medical
professionals go even further and recommend stronger stimulants, such as saunas or
alternating hot and cold showers.
QWERTYUIOP (4 practices)

PRACTICE 1
Read the extract from the short story QWERTYUIOP below and answer the
questions that follow.

She stared at it in horrified bewilderment. What had happened? What had she done? Not even on her first day at
theBelmontSecretarialCollegehad she made such ridiculous mistakes. Such strange mistakes QWERTYUIOP, the top
line of letters on a typewriter, repeated over and over again! Thank God there had been no one to notice. Theyd think
she had gone mad.
She must be more careful. Keep her mind on the job, not allow it to wander out of the window into the sunny shopping
street below. Putting fresh paper into the typewriter, she began again.
She was tempted to look at the keyboard . . . Dont look at the keys! Keep your eyes away! Mrs Price was always
saying. No peeing. Youll never make a good typist if you cant do it by touch. Rhythm, its all rhythm. Play it to
music in your head.
a. What is QWERTYUIOP?

b. Why must she be careful?

..
c. What did she decide to do after making the repeated mistakes?

d. Do you think you would make such mistakes. Give a reason for your answer.

PRACTICE 2
Read the extract from the short story QWERTYUIOP below and answer the
questions that follow.

For an hour, she battled with the machine. As fast as QWERTYUIOPs and unwanted capitals appeared, she
attacked with a loaded brush. The white fluid ran down the typing paper like melting ice-cream, and dripped thickly
into the depths of the typewriter.
YOURE DROWNING ME, it complained pathetically, and she swiped at the words with her brush.
HELP!
Another swipe.
PLEASE!
But Lucy showed no mercy. The large bottle was half-empty when she reached the end of the letter in triumph.
Yours faithfully,
George Ross,
She typed, and sat back with a sigh of relief.
The machine began to rattle. Too late, Lucy snatched the completed letter out of the typewriter. Across the bottom of
the otherwise faultless page, it now said in large, red capitals:
I HATE YOU!
Furiously she painted the words out.
a. What is the white fluid?

b. Why is Lucy battling with the machine?

c. Why is the large bottle half empty?

..
d. What quality did Lucy display? Provide a reason for your answer.