Do People Really Get Sick When It Rains

[IMA_FARANG]

urban legend?

myth

or for real??????

I don't know about the rain...but several years ago I spent some time in nothern Alaska. The winter months are long and dark, with only a few hours of sunlight each day. Although it never affected me, certain people come down with what is know as Seasonally Affected Disorder or SAD, which is a depression caused by lack of sunlight during the winter. The cure, believe it or not, is to cover the patients eyes, and expose them to a very bright light source that is as close to possible to natural sunlight. This stimulates the production of vitamin D in their body, and usually helps cure the depression. It is more common in women than men, but can occur in both sexes.

[threelegcowboy]

I think I know what causes all this instant sickness from changes in weather and/or rain. It is the spores or other elements in the air that is breathed in and irritates the sinuses. The spores can come from flowers/plants and also from fungus. During the warm months a concentration of spores is swept upwards into clouds(heat rises) and then rain drops fall thousands of feet through this concentrated air of spores. This is one of the reasons you get dirty spots on surfaces when it rains.

The spores in great numbers get into your sinuses and irritation begins. The less resistance you have the worse your symptoms.

This can also happen to a lesser degree with changes in weather and spores from fungus.

[percy2]

I've noticed if I have air con blowing on me I will start sneezing and start developing mucous in my nasal passages.

Cold like symptoms but they clear up when I move out of the air con.

Cheers

[threelegcowboy]

I've noticed if I have air con blowing on me I will start sneezing and start developing mucous in my nasal passages.

Cold like symptoms but they clear up when I move out of the air con.

Cheers

Have you cleaned the filter in the air conditioner? Just the duct can accumulate fungas/mold (spores) and then you stir them up with the air con fan. Your natural resistance fluctuates and the air con concentrate of spores fluctuates. So it may not be a constant problem.

Another thing that might help is not using the air con on full blast.

[lazeeboy]

i get headaches just before a storm ....

[moldy]

urban legend?

myth

or for real??????

nice posting.

yes I think many of us, perhaps most, do tend to be more sick in wet weather. Two main reasons, greater susceptibility to respiratory virus', and increased risk of food contamination from dirty water. It probably wouldn't matter a jot in the countryside, but urban life is much different.

[WaiWai]

Asthma's affected by weather changes, certainly. Humidity and temperature. Steamy air tends to appease it (people used to boil a kettle in the room or take a hot bath).

[pumpuiman]

My back hurts as a low pressure system passes.

I used to think my Grandmother was crazy....saying her bones ached when it rained.

I'm sorry for doubting you Grandma

[moldy]

In the English speaking world, it is highly believed even among 'educated folks' that cold air causes the common cold. Indeed, the term may have been invented for that reason. I read that the US Army did a scientific experiment and proved that it was only a legend. After all, the 'common cold' is a viral infection!

However, it's generally agreed that people with low immunity are more susceptible when there's a change in climate.

It rains in many part of Thailand for roughly half the year. Within days of the onset of the rainy season, the pollution disappears, washed away, almost daily. If rain caused illness, Thais would all be sick half the year and nothing would get done!

I suspect it's an old rural myth based on nonscientific folklore.

Cold and wet often coincide.

Well in absolute terms, no of course cold air can not cause a cold. But I think cold air is more likely to damage the nasal linings and thus render one more susceptible to a cold virus.

So even people without low immunity are more susceptible when there's a change in climate- say to cold wet weather..

It's there for all to see, just open your eyes during the cold/wet seasons.

Better still go to UK during the winter .

[moldy]

There was a clinical study about this in the UK a few years ago.

One large group of people was subjected to cold temperatures in wet clothes daily for a week, another equally sized group was provided with comfort and warmth during the same period.

Half of each group had the rhino virus sprayed into their nostrils and the other half a placebo.

There was no significant difference in how many people caught the common cold between the group that had been in the uncomfortable wet cold environment and the group that had been in the comfortable dry and warm environment.

Now this really does need a reference. please.