The effects of the storm Ciarán, which is leaving strong gusts of almost hurricane-force wind in the north of the peninsula, are not only meteorological or causing misfortunes such as falling trees and other incidents, but it also influences our physical well-being, since it can reach to cause a headache.
How can these strong wind currents affect our health? As explained by Dr. Juan Jesús González Alemán, senior meteorologist of the State, storms act by increasing the atmospheric pressure gradient. With changes in pressure, the human body's oxygen level varies, causing blood vessels to expand or contract to adjust to those variations. The headache appears due to this variation in the diameter of the blood vessels.
The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has put Spain on alert for Ciarán, the storm that is already circulating through Spanish territory with widespread rainfall, a marked maritime storm and intense winds between this Thursday and next Sunday, especially in the quadrant northwest peninsula. González Alemán has equated Ciarán to a hurricane in terms of wind, due to a warm seclusion process that further intensifies this phenomenon.
This Thursday, air currents could exceed 100 kilometers per hour in certain areas. Furthermore, according to Aemet, it will be accompanied by a “hard” maritime storm, especially on the coast of Galicia and the Cantabrian Sea (where the waves could reach or exceed 8 meters in height). The maritime storm will also affect the Mediterranean, with waves that could exceed 5 meters in height.
The variations caused by the change in atmospheric pressure do not affect everyone equally, but they do explain why many people feel bad on these types of days. This phenomenon has a greater effect on meteorsensitive people. This was explained by the doctor in Physical Sciences and head of meteorology at Eltiempo.es, Mar Gómez, to La Vanguardia. According to the doctor, meteorsensitive people "experience symptoms in their physical health (their knee or head hurts) or mental health when variations occur in atmospheric conditions, such as humidity, pressure, temperature or wind."
Furthermore, the physicist, meteorologist, doctor and psychiatrist Jesús San Gil assures that the external air environment can also exert excess tension on the endocrine, nervous or psychological systems. This is what is known as meteorological stress.
Changes in atmospheric pressure (the force exerted by air on the Earth's surface) can lead to sleep disturbances, migraines and temporary loss of concentration. In addition, ailments may be noticed in areas where trauma has been suffered or in the joints.
According to San Gil, strong wind for days and sudden changes in weather can cause headaches, irritability or anxiety. Furthermore, the longer a person has been exposed to the effects of the wind, the worse they adapt to it (this is 'deacclimatization' due to a mechanism of fatigue).
Meteorologists affirm that climatic conditions are related to various pathologies and ailments, and for years they have expressed the need for more research into the impact that meteorological conditions have on the human body. The climatic environment has an impact on health, a fact that biometeorology is studying more and more.
