‘Rainy days and Mondays always get me down,” Karen and Richard Carpenter sang in the 1970s. But are mood swings — and your health — actually affected by the weather? Widespread cloudiness and showers this month have raised the issue in many conversations: Does rain put sunny dispositions at risk, or affect the health of usually sun-kissed Central Floridians? To find out, the Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board sought out Ray Lebeda, M.D., a family medicine specialist with the Orlando Health Physician Associates office in Lake Mary.
Q: We’re in the middle of a record streak of rainy days for Central Florida. Are there any physical or mental problems aggravated by long stretches of rain?
A: Long stretches of rainy weather are known to cause chronic pain and joint pain. Headaches, especially mild migraines, can also be brought on by rain. In fact, weather — including changes in temperature or barometric pressure, rain, and sunlight — is among the top five triggers for migraine headaches.
Rainy weather can also cause sinus pain. These sinus headaches usually occur when a front passes and the barometric pressure drops. People will usually describe increasing sinus pressure or pain as the front approaches and then a sense of relief as the storms pass. The increased pressure causes inflammation in the air-filled sinus cavity, in turn creating pressure on the eyes, in the forehead, ears, cheeks and teeth. These sinus headaches usually feel worst in the morning and improve as the day goes on.
Extended periods of rainy weather can also lead to depression. It’s not the rain itself but rather the decrease in sun exposure, which we need to convert Vitamin D to active form. Vitamin D changes serotonin levels in the brain and accounts for the change in mood. Serotonin is a hormone that plays an important role in regulation of mood. Lower serotonin levels increase the chance of depression-like symptoms.
Q: Is there any difference in the patient volume for hospitals and other health providers during rainy periods? If so, what explains it? (More car accidents? More slips and falls? More drug use? More respiratory illnesses?)
A: There isn’t much data showing a link between patient volumes and rainy weather. Rain-slicked roads lead to more car accidents, and wet floors can lead to more falls, and that might impact visits to hospitals and doctors’ offices. I haven’t seen changes at my office with all the rain here.
Q: Does rain have any impact, positive or negative, on the body’s immune system?
A: There is no research showing that rain affects our immune systems. We know that shifts in behavior due to the rain or other weather phenomena can create opportunities for exposure to viruses or bacteria. For example, because you can’t go out in the rain, you are more likely to spend time in close quarters with others, therefore exposing you more to viral or bacterial infections.
Scientists are not in full agreement on weather causing pain. There are theories but most deal with the change in barometric pressure, not the rain, cold, wind or snow. The decrease in barometric pressure that usually occurs with bad weather pushes less against the body and allows tissue to expand, which puts pressure on our joints. It’s barely noticeable but some of us can have a sensation of pain.
Usually, arthritis affects everything within the joint, including joint lining and ligaments. All these tissues have nerve endings that can feel changes in the weather as tightness or stiffness. People with arthritis or chronic pain usually have hypersensitive nerves, making them feel changes in weather more so than others.
Q: The decline in sunny days in the winter in many parts of the country causes a psychological condition known as seasonal affective disorder. Is there any equivalent for long periods of rain?
A: Seasonal affective disorder is a diagnosis lasting two weeks or more. You could have this diagnosis for very long periods of rain, but it is usually and more commonly diagnosed for the length of a season like fall or winter. For Floridians accustomed to living with so much sunshine, I can see how these long periods of rainy days could affect us mentally.
Q: How does all the rain affect allergies? Does it make them better or worse?
A: This is a good question, and the answer depends on what you are allergic to. If you are allergic to tree pollen or grass or weed pollen, you can imagine that the rain would be a blessing. As we would say, it washes down all that pollen and filters the air. But if you are allergic to mold, you are now in for a treat. All those patients with mold allergies might be filling my schedule for office visits pretty soon. Therefore, it is difficult to say one way or the other. I’m allergic to pollen so, lately, I’ve been doing a happy dance. My wife, on the other hand, is allergic to mold, so I can’t say the same for her.
