Barometric pressure not only affects the weather, but it can also affect the human body. When the barometric pressure changes, the partial pressure of oxygen changes, which can lead to headaches, joint pain and multiple other symptoms.
When the Barometric Pressure is high, the pressure pushes more against our body and limits how much tissue can expand. On the other hand, when the atmosphere's air pressure is low, it allows our body's tissues to expand more—putting more pressure on nerves and other parts of our body.
“The most commonly reported result of changes in barometric pressure on our health is associated with headaches and migraines,” says Dr. Joseph Aquilina, chief medical officer of SharpCare Medical Group. “The likelihood of a headache is also increased if there is already any congestion or blockage in the sinuses.”
Some people really can feel atmospheric pressure changes within their bodies. Those with migraine, diabetes, high or low blood pressure, or osteoarthritis are the most susceptible to extra aches and pains before a storm.
The low light conditions associated with rainy weather can lead to a spike in melatonin, making you feel drowsy. Yet another reason for feeling tired or “down” in rainy weather is the effect of barometric pressure.
Because your nasal and sinus cavities are air channels, any change in that pressure, especially a fall in barometric pressure, affects those areas. This forces fluid into tissues and can cause a disruption in fluid balance.
One reason could be that the falling air pressure disrupts the vestibular system – the cavity in our heads that helps us to keep balance – bringing about the dizzy spells, and eventually, migraine.
Barometric pressure changes cause expansion and contraction of the ligaments, tendon, and cartilage within the joint and this causes the increase in pain.
Humidity tends to make people more tired and irritable. Barometric pressure fluctuations can alter moods and trigger headaches, some studies finding a link between low pressure and suicide.
Many factors can affect sleep quality, but one that you may rarely think about is the outside environment. There is evidence that changes in temperature, barometric pressure, humidity and more can affect your sleep – often for the worse.
When atmospheric pressure decreases body tissues swell slightly. This can put increased pressure on joints and sinuses. Low temperatures also causes blood viscosity, or thickness. Your blood pressure gets a double whammy.
Patient's with Meniere's Disease often notice the onset of symptoms with barometric pressure changes. Meniere's Disease typically causes episodes of vertigo that progressively get worse over a period of minutes, but can also last for hours. Symptoms typically improve after a period of several hours.
Changes in barometric pressure can cause expansion and contraction of tendons, muscles, bones and scar tissues, resulting in pain in the tissues that are affected by arthritis. Low temperatures may also increase the thickness of joint fluids, making them stiffer and perhaps more sensitive to pain during movement.
Some people associate their happiest memories with long summer days and experiencing the benefits of the warmer months. However for people with anxiety disorders, the heat may increase their symptoms of anxiety, and the summer months can feel the most difficult to face.
While you can't change the weather, there are a few simple things you can do to get a better night's sleep, when the barometric pressure is low. If you're feeling drowsy during the day, getting active can help. Go for a walk, to the gym or take a yoga session.
In such cases, barometric pressure changes can trigger modification of sensory inputs. Other diseases, such as perilymph fistula or superior canal dehiscence, can also cause dizziness with changes of the barometric pressure. In those cases, pressure changes disrupt the hydrodynamics of the inner ear fluids.
Weather affects our moods, temperaments, depression and outlook. It can also affect people's personalities. While mildly warm temperatures might be pleasant, soaring hot temperatures can cause people to become aggressive.
There's evidence to suggest a connection
The study found that the amount of sunshine, temperature and humidity had the greatest effect on mood. In particular, it showed that high humidity lowered concentration and increased sleepiness — something many Houstonians can likely relate to.
When the weather changes, so does our bodies. We may not feel it immediately, but as the temperature and humidity outside fluctuates, so does the water content inside our cells. This can lead to all sorts of aches and pains, from headaches and migraines to cramps and stiffness.
Each day, around 4 a.m./p.m. the pressure is at its lowest and near its peak around 10 a.m./p.m. The magnitude of the daily cycle is greatest near the equator decreasing toward the poles. On top of the daily fluctuations are the larger pressure changes as a result of the migrating weather systems.
When it rains, there is more water vapor in the air, it results in lower air pressure and a relative decrease in oxygen content. In such a situation, brain begin to slack off, and people will feel sleepy.
Barometric pressure.
There have been some recent studies that correlate ambient barometric pressure extremes with mental confusion, a sort of “brain fog.” (With Nebraska experiencing record high barometric readings in the past weeks, it could explain the state's Supreme Court Keystone ruling.)
A low-pressure area, low or depression, is a region where the atmospheric pressure is lower than that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere.