Olga Lukinskaya
It is generally accepted that it is useful to go to the bathhouse, and a contrast shower helps to "harden" the immune system - but it is said that in an unprepared person, diving into cold water can provoke a heart attack. We tried to figure out what science says about the dangers and benefits of temperature changes for the body - does the bath really "remove toxins", is it useful to leave "warm up" from winter to summer, and whether food with contrasting temperatures can harm.
A shower with an alternating change in water temperature (from hot to cold and vice versa) is often credited with magical properties: it must strengthen the immune system, train muscles and even regulate the endocrine system. A couple of years ago, a study was conducted in the Netherlands with the participation of three thousand people who took either a regular shower or a contrast shower in the morning. It turned out that the number of days when people got sick (mainly with colds) was the same in all groups, but those who took a contrast shower were 29% less likely to miss work, because they tolerated viral infections much easier. By the way, the timing of the study coincided with the flu epidemic in Holland.
According to the authors of the study, the mechanisms of such an effect are not yet clear - but it is not associated with the "strengthening" of immunity; it turned out that cold simultaneously induces reactions that enhance and suppress immune function. Possible explanations include psychological expectations (the placebo effect, where a person is confident in healing with a contrast shower) and an improvement in overall fitness. The 29% reduction in absenteeism due to illness is comparable to the effect of physical activity: people who regularly exercised were on sick leave 35% less than those who did not play sports and did not take a contrast shower.
The general condition is improved due to temperature contrasts, because the cardiovascular system is being trained: under the influence of cold, the superficial vessels are narrowed in order to protect the body from heat loss. In the heat, on the contrary, there is an expansion of the vessels close to the surface of the body - this avoids overheating. As with any other workout, the body should be accustomed to it gradually, starting with mild temperature changes and short intervals.
With scientific evidence of the benefits of a bath, everything is not so simple: on the one hand, saunas and baths are associated with a healthy lifestyle, and a couple of years ago, in another study, it was confirmed that their regular visit correlates with a decrease in the risk of heart disease and even mortality. On the other hand, the official commentary on these results states that people at risk of cardiovascular complications may experience unpleasant sensations in the bath, as a result of which they simply refuse to visit it.
Meteosensitive people know perfectly well how capricious and changeable the weather can be. Let's try to figure it out and find out what surprises accompany most weather events.
Meteosensitive people quite often have to deal with various allergic reactions during a sharp cold snap. This usually happens when the temperature drops by 8 or more degrees per day.
In asthmatics, an attack can begin with a sharp change in temperature, for example, if you leave a warm room in a cold place. People without allergy tendencies can also suffer on such days. Skin irritations such as hives or dermatitis begin to appear for no reason.
On the first day of a sharp cold snap, meteosensitive people are not recommended to consume spicy and fried foods, citrus fruits, chocolate and alcohol. In case the allergy has already appeared, it is necessary to drink an infusion of the sequence for several days: 2 tbsp. spoons of the sequence are poured with boiling water and infused for 15-20 minutes. Drink the broth should always be fresh and like regular tea. It is not recommended to store the infusion.
Smokers should reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke these days, as tobacco smoke will only provoke allergic reactions.
With high humidity (more than 80%), the body prone to meteosensitivity quickly weakens and reacts sharply to the slightest cold. On such days, you need to be especially careful. The risk of getting the flu or colds increases, and the likelihood of joint and kidney inflammation is high. The great contrast between dry indoor air and damp outdoor air contributes to various diseases.
With the onset of the heating season, the humidity in the houses is 30%. Because of this, the mucous membranes dry out, the process of the ciliated epithelium is disrupted, which prevents viral infections from penetrating the trachea, bronchi and nose.
The normal atmospheric pressure for the human body is 768 mm. rt. Art. With a sharp drop in pressure by 7-8 mm per day, the respiratory and cardiovascular systems suffer. The person may develop weakness and a feeling of lack of fresh air. This is due to the low oxygen content in the atmosphere.
If changes in atmospheric pressure are accompanied by high humidity, you need to pay special attention to your health. The arrival of rain cyclones with cold winds very often provokes serious diseases.
The main thing on such days is not to burden yourself with work and to postpone important matters for a while. If the early morning waking up is difficult, a warm shower and morning exercises will help.
It is best to replace tea with herbal tea, such as chamomile, lime blossom or St. John's wort. The daily diet must include foods containing potassium: bananas, dried apricots, raisins, jacket potatoes, and the meteosensitivity will decrease. To strengthen blood vessels, it is recommended to take 2 capsules of vitamin E per day.
An anticyclone is a high atmospheric pressure with clear weather and weak wind. As a rule, only allergy sufferers suffer in such weather, since the concentration of harmful substances in the air increases.
These days it is desirable to be in nature. If it doesn't work out, you can spend time in the park and get some fresh air. After a walk, you should thoroughly wash your face and hands, rinse your throat with a decoction of sage or chamomile, and rinse your nose with saline. These procedures will rid the skin and mucous membranes of bacteria.
Magnetic storms are difficult even for healthy people, and meteosensitivity is an aggravating factor. They cause a malfunction in the normal functioning of the nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. In addition, the viscosity of the blood changes.
In patients with thrombophlebitis and atherosclerosis, the blood coagulates faster and becomes thicker. All this leads to an exacerbation of heart and hypertensive diseases. Other people are likely to have unexpected bleeding: uterine women, nasal men.
If in women magnetic storms coincided with menstruation, doctors recommend taking 1 tablet of ascorutin and 2 tablets of calcium gluconate 3 times a day. As a hemostatic agent, it is advised to drink an infusion of nettle, a decoction of plantain leaves or corn silk.
Meteorological dependence and sensitivity in everyone manifests itself in different ways - light dizziness, exacerbation of joint diseases. Is it possible to get rid of meteosensitivity and what is the essence of this phenomenon, symptoms, treatment?
A change in atmospheric pressure is one of the most common reasons for the deterioration of well-being in meteorological people. A sharp change in weather primarily negatively affects the health of those who suffer from cardiovascular diseases. Their well-being may be impaired by lowering atmospheric pressure.
How does temperature change affect pressure?
Severe frosts in winter traditionally bring anticyclones - areas of high atmospheric pressure. The anticyclones are characterized by clear or slightly cloudy weather and no precipitation. And now in the European territory of Russia, which carries warmer air. This cyclone is a giant atmospheric vortex dominated by low pressure.
But how are atmospheric and blood pressure related? Despite the fact that we do not feel or see air, it is not ethereal. This gas has a weight that would flatten us if its own pressure - arterial pressure - were not maintained inside human bodies. It becomes higher or lower, depending on how the atmospheric changes. The so-called "baroreceptors" located in the vessels are responsible for this process.
In healthy people, they easily adapt to what is happening around, and in weather-sensitive people, unfortunately, they do not cope with the task as well as we would like. When atmospheric pressure rises, their baroreceptors not only increase the pressure, but provoke a real jump. As a result, a person begins to have a headache, nausea appears, and flies flash before his eyes. Sometimes a slight chill is added to these sensations. Meteosensitive people react to a decrease in atmospheric pressure in the same way as to an increase. At first, their baroreceptors begin to decrease arterial parameters, but at some point the body thinks that they are becoming too low, and so is it.
What to do? It is necessary to exclude from the diet foods that can further increase blood pressure (strong meat and fish broths, strong tea, coffee, beans, peas, carbonated drinks).
Do not overeat, it is better to make a diet of vegetable and fish dishes, eat more greens.
You also need to moderate physical activity, give up any hard work. In general, this day needs to be unloaded as much as possible so that it passes calmly.
It is during warming, and not in severe frosts viruses and pathogenic bacteria are activated... Increased air humidity contributes to a decrease in the body's resistance to disease. Therefore, it is easier to catch a cold or flu, which will lead to bronchitis. The incidence of pneumonia is also increasing.
What to do? Dress warmly enough so that you don't get blown out, but not too warmly so you don't overheat. You also need to try not to get your feet wet in puddles of melted snow and, at least for a while, give up cigarettes or smoke less.
During a thaw, some people may experience shortness of breath, suffocation, and even develop hypoxia - oxygen starvation. This is due to the fact that a cyclone carrying warm air and snow leads to a decrease in atmospheric pressure, therefore, the oxygen content in the air decreases.
Breathing can become more difficult even for a healthy person, what then can we say about patients with bronchial asthma. Therefore, asthmatics these days should not forget about the inhaler.
Natural disasters affect the mental state of people. Abnormal barometric pressure turns some people into a somnambulist. Someone, on the contrary, has inexplicable aggression. It is very important for such people to learn how to relax after a busy day.
Choose any method of relaxation - whatever you like. It can be yoga, meditation, auto-training, add to them walks around the house for the coming sleep. These days you need to try to pull yourself together and not quarrel with anyone, because stress aggravates the painful condition.
Those who feel excitement, aggression, nervousness, in any case, these days do not need to get behind the wheel, do dangerous work, plan difficult negotiations, and so on.
People suffering from joint pain are acutely aware of the slightest changes in the weather. Cooling or warming, as well as high humidity, negatively affect the condition of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The pain will go away, at least for a while, if you use warming ointments and bandages made of natural wool.
Ice often forms during thaws. As a result, more and more people who slip on icy sidewalks end up in emergency rooms with bruises, fractures and even concussion. Victims from falling icicles and ice from roofs are also admitted to hospitals. The number of road accidents is also on the rise as cars skid on slippery roads. Therefore, carefully watch your step and do not walk near buildings. Choose non-slip, flat shoes. And stay away from houses with icicles hanging from their rooftops.
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The site provides background information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. A specialist consultation is required!
The human body exists in constant interaction with the environment, therefore, for all, without exception, people are characterized by meteosensitivity - the ability of the body (primarily the nervous system) to respond to changes in weather factors, such as atmospheric pressure, wind, intensity of solar radiation, etc.However, the reaction of a practically healthy person rarely goes beyond physiologically explainable changes, such as, for example, increased sleepiness in cloudy weather or a tendency to an elevated background of mood on a sunny spring day.
In cases where a change in weather conditions causes severe discomfort or even symptoms of pathology, they speak of increased meteosensitivity - about meteorological dependence... These symptoms include:
This situation is associated with a number of factors, among which the most significant are:
The value of atmospheric pressure is an imperceptible, however, perhaps the most important weather factor that affects almost all systems of the human body. The fact is that when atmospheric pressure drops, pressure naturally changes in the body cavities, which leads to irritation of the baroreceptors (nerve endings that respond to pressure changes) of the blood vessels, pleura and peritoneum, and the inner surface of the articular capsules.
It is for this reason that people with sore joints can easily predict weather changes. An exacerbation of arthritis indicates a decrease in atmospheric pressure, which portends an imminent deterioration in weather conditions.
Irritation of the vascular baroreceptors is associated with a deterioration in the condition of patients suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system - during such periods, they may experience sudden changes in blood pressure, disturbances in the rhythm and heart rate, deterioration of the general condition.
Two more important factors provoking the emergence of meteorological dependence are physical inactivity and insufficient stay in the fresh air. By practicing long walks in parks or outside the city, you will increase your physical activity, saturate your lungs with clean, oxygen-rich air and gradually train your body's adaptive forces.
This is an ancient remedy for the treatment of various ailments, which has a powerful general strengthening effect, stabilizes the state of the nervous system, normalizes vascular tone and increases immunity.
In addition, honey is a natural universal adaptogen that increases the body's resistance to adverse factors, including fluctuations in meteorological indicators.
Linden and buckwheat honey varieties are most useful for meteorological dependence. Most experts advise to give preference to comb honey, since honey loses some of its beneficial properties when it is extracted from the honeycomb by hardware.
Other beekeeping products - propolis and royal jelly will help to get rid of meteorological dependence. It is better to take these drugs after prior consultation with a specialist.
However, care should be taken - vitamin preparations are far from harmless. So, for example, fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, etc.) in case of an overdose cause dangerous diseases - hypervitaminosis.
Moreover, scientific evidence suggests that even ascorbic acid (known to all vitamin C), with prolonged uncontrolled use, can cause serious complications.
Therefore, before starting a preventive intake of vitamins, consult your doctor.
A visit to the pool, a contrast shower, rubdowns, etc. - without exception, all water procedures, if performed correctly, have a pronounced adaptogenic effect. A characteristic symptom of meteorological dependence is fatigue and fatigue, so the indisputable advantage of therapeutic baths is that they allow you to relax and unwind during the procedure.
Depending on the expected effect, therapeutic baths with meteorological dependence can be divided into three groups:
1.
Toning.
2.
Calming.
3.
Used to relieve acute symptoms of meteopathy.
To eliminate severe symptoms of meteorological dependence use water close to body temperature, that is, about 36-37 degrees (neutral baths). You can stay in such a bath indefinitely. A neutral bath relieves stress on the body and helps to normalize the general condition.
Tonic baths are taken in the morning, with severe weakness and loss of strength. They improve mood and general tone of the body, help to cope with attacks of morning depression and tune in to an active lifestyle.
The water temperature of a classic tonic bath does not exceed 20 degrees, but the body should be prepared for such a procedure gradually so as not to provoke the development of a cold. Cold baths are contraindicated in the presence of chronic foci of infection in the body, since they can cause a relapse of the disease.
For people who are especially sensitive to low temperatures, it is best to stop at a water temperature of 30 degrees - such baths are called cool. They also have a tonic effect, although less pronounced.
The duration of the procedure with a tonic bath should not exceed 3-5 minutes, so that hypothermia of the body does not occur.
After the bath, you need to rest for half an hour.
Soothing baths are taken mainly at night. They calm the nervous system and promote healthy sleep and proper rest. The temperature of the soothing baths is about 38 degrees (warm bath), while you can stay in the water for up to 40 minutes, gradually adding warm water as it cools.
Therapeutic baths can not only relieve the symptoms of meteorological dependence, but also increase the body's resistance to environmental changes, contributing to the elimination of the pathology itself. But in order to cure meteorological dependence with the help of therapeutic baths, their course application is necessary. As a rule, the doctor prescribes a course of 10-15 procedures.
The effectiveness of medicinal baths will increase significantly when special additives are added to the water, such as sea salt, essential oils, decoctions of pine needles and medicinal herbs.
In this case, it is necessary to adjust the water temperature and the time of the procedure. So, for example, the popular sea salt is used for baths with temperatures ranging from 36 to 40 degrees. In this case, the duration of stay in the water should not exceed 20 minutes.
In addition, when using medicinal additives, there are additional rules: before taking a bath, you should wash and rub the body with a soft sponge so that the solutes act on the skin more actively, and after the procedure, you need to take a shower to eliminate salt or biologically active substances.
Healing baths have a pronounced effect on the state of the body, therefore, like all serious therapeutic agents, they have contraindications. First of all, these are hypertension and other serious diseases of the cardiovascular system, infectious diseases in the acute stage, skin pathology, pregnancy, menstruation, etc.
There are special contraindications for medicinal supplements, so if you decide to cure meteorological dependence with baths, it is best to consult your doctor first.
Essential oils of medicinal plants are used for aromatherapy, such as:
Contraindications to aromatherapy are asthmatic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, allergic skin diseases, individual intolerance.
On the other hand, the rapid growth and development of the body makes great demands not only on the nutrition of the child, but also on the state of the environment, therefore, unfavorable climatic conditions can cause a delay in the physical and psycho-emotional development of the baby. So, the lack of solar radiation leads to the development of rickets, and the excess adversely affects the state of the central nervous system, skin, and can provoke allergic diseases.
Babies are especially sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure. This is due to the presence of fontanelles - areas of the skull that are not covered with bone or cartilaginous tissue.
Another reason for the increased sensitivity of infants to a decrease in atmospheric pressure is the physiological immaturity of the digestive tract, so that changes in the weather often lead to the accumulation of gases in the intestines of the crumbs, and causes painful colic.
Symptoms of meteorological dependence in infants, as a rule, are associated with a decrease in atmospheric pressure, so that they either appear on gloomy rainy days, or, like a barometer, portend worsening weather conditions. First of all, the baby's general condition suffers - he becomes lethargic, whiny, loses his appetite, and is capricious. Some infants may experience a typical clinic of intestinal colic: the child cries hysterically for a long time, twists his legs, refuses to breast or picks up the breast and throws it up, starting to cry.
With a severe course of meteorological dependence, even some regression of signs of development on cloudy days is possible. The kid can temporarily "forget" how to sit without support, make "okay", "forget" the first words, etc. This regression is completely reversible, but indicates a functional disorder of higher nervous activity under the influence of meteorological factors, which most often happens with some concomitant pathology.
So, intestinal colic in response to a decrease in atmospheric pressure often indicates such diseases as dysbiosis and exudative diathesis. It should be noted that in the latter case, the skin manifestations of allergic reactions may be expressed mildly, so that intestinal colic, aggravated by changes in atmospheric pressure, may be the first sign of the need to change the milk formula, or switch to a special hypoallergenic diet.
A pronounced meteorological dependence with a predominance of disturbances from the central nervous system (decreased activity, loss of appetite, tearfulness, moodiness, a decrease in the rate of development or even some regression, etc.) is often the first sign of such a serious pathology as increased intracranial pressure (hydrocephalus). Especially suspicious of the presence of hydrocephalus is meteorological dependence in infants at risk (pathology of pregnancy and childbirth, prematurity, low body weight, developmental delay, etc.).
However, in most cases, increased meteosensitivity in infants is the result of minor functional disorders of the central nervous system, or even an individual feature of the body.
Treatment of meteorological dependence in infants, regardless of the reason, should include general strengthening measures:
In conclusion, it should be noted that since infants are physiologically predisposed to increased meteosensitivity, their adaptive capabilities should not be subjected to additional loads - to change climatic zones without extreme necessity, in particular, to take them to rest "to the sea", etc.
Most often, the development of meteorological dependence in children is caused by diseases of the central nervous system, both functional (minimal cerebral dysfunction, vegetative-vascular dystonia, neurasthenia, etc.) and organic genesis (consequences of craniocerebral trauma, neuroinfections, cerebral palsy, etc.). NS.).
Also, acute and chronic infectious diseases, helminthic invasions often contribute to the occurrence of increased meteosensitivity. In addition, any diseases leading to general depletion of the body can be the cause of the increased reaction of the body to changes in weather factors.
Psychological factors play an important role in the development of meteorological dependence. Therefore, increased sensitivity to weather changes most often manifests itself against a background of stress, such as the beginning of attending a preschool childcare institution or school, moving to a new place of residence, increased stress during exams, problems in the family or in communicating with peers, etc.
Recently, a lot of data have appeared, indicating the hereditary nature of meteosensitivity. Some researchers also note that increased attention of parents to changes in the weather can provoke meteoneurosis in children.
It should be noted that often pronounced meteorological dependence arises under the complex influence of all groups of causal factors that aggravate each other.
Often, meteorological dependence in children is manifested by moodiness, tearfulness and irritability. Therefore, when these signs appear, one should trace their connection with weather changes.
If an increased meteosensitivity is suspected, a child, like an adult, should undergo a full study to detect factors that provoke a decrease in adaptation.
When a diagnosis of a particular pathology is made, its adequate therapy is performed (sanitation of foci of chronic infection, elimination of psychological problems, etc.).
Regardless of the reasons that provoked meteorological dependence, treatment includes the normalization of the daily routine and the elimination of factors irritating the nervous system (watching TV, vigil at the computer, too noisy events, etc.).
Shown are long walks in the fresh air, moderate sports (swimming is especially useful). It is necessary to consult a doctor about the appointment of massage courses, physiotherapy exercises, vitamin therapy.
Outside the window, it rains, then snow, then the sun, and all this within one day and each organism reacts to such weather changes in different ways. According to statistics, a third of Russians suffer from meteorological dependence.
It seems that the weather is just driving us. What to do? Resign, wait, and can somehow get rid of meteorological dependence.
The fact that the weather affects a person is an indisputable fact. The number of people who feel the changes in the weather is constantly growing.
The relationship between weather change and health has been noticed since ancient times. Greek Aesculapians in their writings described in detail how the weather affects a person. Of course, in our time, scientists know much more about such an influence.
Our circulatory system is closely related to atmospheric pressure, so a person suffers from its sharp jumps the worst, especially people suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
As a rule, our body is able to rebuild when pressure changes, even in people with chronic diseases. The effect is exerted by a change in pressure together with other natural factors.
For example, a sharp drop in air temperature at elevated atmospheric pressure has a very negative effect on the body. The oxygen content in the air increases, but it does not breathe easier. The speed of blood flow increases, vasospasm sets in, and this, as a rule, headache, high blood pressure, risk of thrombus formation. Such weather has a particularly negative effect on hypertensive patients.
With a sharp warming (more than 8-10 degrees), the humidity of the air rises, and if the atmospheric pressure decreases, then the oxygen content in the air drops. The speed of blood flow decreases and gases are formed, they raise the diaphragm, which presses on the heart and lungs. A person experiences a lack of air, heaviness in the head, weakness, drowsiness appears. Hypotonic people, people suffering from chronic oxygen deficiency, people who have suffered a stroke or heart attack are very difficult to tolerate such weather.
How else does the weather affect a person. Changes in atmospheric pressure affect not only our blood vessels, but also the nerve endings of the pleura, peritoneum, joint capsules. Therefore, sudden surges in pressure have an impact on people with sore joints, chronic pleurisy, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract are possible. The tone of the bronchi is affected by a change in atmospheric pressure, therefore, a change in weather is difficult for asthmatics.
During magnetic storms, a large amount of adrenaline is released into the blood of a person, which leads to an exacerbation of chronic diseases, depression, slows down the reaction, decreases attention, therefore, the risk of injury and accidents increases. And although for many magnetic storms pass unnoticed, there is a category of people who are strongly influenced by them. These are, as a rule, people over 55 years old, people who have suffered traumatic brain injuries, strokes, people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, diseases of the nervous system, diseases of the endocrine system.
People can also be weather dependent on strong winds, during solar and lunar eclipses, and increased solar activity.
Doctors say that this is possible, and in fairly simple ways. 
There are a number of effective recommendations that allow, if not completely get rid of unpleasant symptoms, then minimize their manifestation as much as possible during the period of changing weather conditions.
And if not everyone is able to go to the bathhouse or swimming, and it is not always possible to go, then everyone can accustom themselves to do exercises in the morning, and then take a contrast shower. Personally, these two good habits helped me to reduce meteorological dependence, I very rarely now react to the weather.
Watch one of the exercises to strengthen blood vessels.
What else will help get rid of weather dependence?
Include the following foods in your diet as often as possible:
According to doctors, if you follow all these rules, then your body will eventually accept this statement - nature does not have bad weather.
The result, of course, will be, but we must understand that this will not happen tomorrow or even in a month, but it may be bad for us today.
It is also possible to alleviate your condition - I suggest watching the video.
Take care of yourself and your loved ones and be healthy.
P.S. Check yourself for weather dependence. You can take the test.
Elena Kasatova. See you by the fireplace.
