$Unique_ID{BRK01065}
$Pretitle{Mental and Emotional Conditions}
$Title{Rainy days, Mondays, and Old Bones}
$Subject{moods weather}
$Volume{E-23}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Rainy days, Mondays, and Old Bones


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QUESTION:  There are mornings I just can't get my old bones moving.  Strange
as it may seem, they are those proverbial days that either are rainy days or
Mondays.  Is there any evidence in medical writings that there is more truth
than fiction in this commonly held idea?

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ANSWER:  While I can't speak for Mondays, researchers are discovering that
there may indeed be strong links between the weather and the state of people's
emotions.  A new term--biometerology--has been coined to describe this field.
One theory holds that a falling barometer causes the body to absorb more water
from the intestinal tract, leading to swelling that can add up to an inch to
the waistline; the retained water also puts extra pressure on tissue in the
brain, leading to irritability and depression in many people.  Studies have
indicated that people have markedly slower reaction times during cloudy,
snowy, or rainy weather than on sunny days; another theory states that
electromagnetic waves from storms influence activity in the brain, while still
others point to the simple physical discomfort of hot, muggy weather combined
with increased outdoor leisure time, as leading to increased crime rates in
the summer.
     Additional studies have linked bad weather with a variety of physical
complaints:  emergency room records tie the onset of a cold wave with a rise
in asthma and migraine attacks, as well as colic and strokes; in cold weather,
the body tends to crave more fats and calories in order to keep warm.  As
scientists learn more about the way weather affects people, they may be able
to anticipate and prevent many health and social problems.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
