Just a few days ago, sweat-inducing heat, now rain, thunderstorms, and temperatures that are partly almost 20 degrees lower. The weather change at the beginning of June surprised many people. While the warm clothing is being taken out of the closet again, which was actually already requested for autumn, another question arises: how does our body deal with such abruptly changing conditions?
The answer is: with difficulty.
The human organism constantly works to keep its core temperature around 37 degrees. This ability of so-called thermoregulation is one of the body’s most important functions. But it costs energy – and this is exactly where the problem begins when temperatures fluctuate extremely within a few days.
After a week of summer heat, the body had already adjusted to warm conditions. The blood vessels dilated to release excess heat, sweat production was in full swing, and the fluid balance had to be constantly adjusted. Just adapted to these conditions, the next challenge followed: cool air, humidity, and partly intense thunderstorms suddenly demanded the opposite.
For the body, this means heavy work.
Medics assume that the organism needs about a week to adjust to new temperature conditions. However, if the next weather pattern follows during this adjustment phase, the system experiences additional stress. Many people feel this immediately. Fatigue, concentration problems, headaches, or a general feeling of exhaustion are among the most common complaints.
Currently, schoolchildren and students are especially affected, as they are in the middle of exams. Those who already had difficulty concentrating in extreme heat often do not feel refreshed by the subsequent cooling. Instead, the body must now expend extra energy to produce enough heat and maintain its own temperature stability.
The transition from warm to cool usually succeeds a bit more easily for the organism than the opposite way. Nevertheless, the strain remains noticeable. Many people feel downright “exhausted” during such phases. No wonder: the body works constantly in the background against the external conditions.
A persistent misconception nevertheless continues to exist. Falling temperatures do not make you sick by themselves. Neither viruses nor bacteria particularly care whether it is 35 or 15 degrees outside. Colds are not caused by cold, but by pathogens.
However, there is a connection. If the organism is stressed by strong temperature fluctuations, the immune system may work slightly less efficiently. Pathogens that are normally repelled without problems are thus given more leeway. This explains why some people actually get sick more often after drastic weather changes.
Those who want to withstand the current weather rollercoaster as best as possible should therefore follow a few simple rules. These include especially adapting to the new weather situation and avoiding the misconception that the heat from the past days still lingers in the bones. A light jacket may now be wiser than demonstrative weather resistance.
Equally important is drinking enough fluids. Many people automatically reduce their fluid intake as temperatures drop. Still, the body needs enough water to keep metabolism and temperature regulation up to standard. A simple glance at the color of urine provides a good indication of hydration status.
The most pleasant conditions for the human organism prevail at temperatures around 20 degrees. Within this range, the body needs relatively little energy to maintain its internal balance.
However, the current early summer is far from this. Between heat waves, thunderstorms, and cool air masses, the weather currently shows its volatile character – and our body tries to keep pace.
By C. Hatty