Do you ever experience headaches, fatigue, or dizziness on rainy days or when the seasons change?

These symptoms are called "meteorological illness (weather pain)" and are thought to be caused by autonomic nervous system disorders due to changes in weather and air pressure.

Weather-related illness is not just a temporary discomfort; it can also affect daily life, causing problems such as a decrease in concentration and poor sleep quality.
In recent years, as more people have become sensitive to weather changes, it has come to be seen as a common health issue.

Why does my body feel unwell?

Weather sickness is a common ailment that many people experience on a daily basis.
When a low pressure system approaches, blood vessels expand and contract repeatedly, which can cause headaches, stiff shoulders, joint pain, and other pains.

Furthermore, changes in humidity and temperature can disrupt the balance of the autonomic nervous system, making you more susceptible to drowsiness, fatigue, and depression.

One of the causes is the inner ear, located deep inside the body.

The inner ear acts as a sensor that detects changes in air pressure, and an organ inside it called the vestibular system overreacts to sudden changes in air pressure.

This excessive reaction affects the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, making it difficult to switch between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

As a result, it is believed that various symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and moodiness appear.

In particular, people who tend to feel unwell when typhoons or low pressure systems approach or when the seasons change are likely to be affected by this.

Does this apply to you? Checklist of main symptoms of weather-related illness

How many of the following symptoms do you experience on rainy days or during low pressure?
There are a wide variety of symptoms of weather-related illness, but let's take a look at some of the most common symptoms.

✔ Headache (especially in the temples and sides)

✔ Stiff shoulders, stiff neck, old injuries and joint pain

Toothache or pain behind the eyes

✔ Dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting

✔ Fatigue and feeling heavy

✔ Drowsiness and difficulty concentrating

✔ Ringing in the ears or a feeling of fullness in the ears

✔ Depression and anxiety

✔ Unmotivated and frustrated

[Starting Today] 4 Self-Care Tips to Relieve Weather Sickness

To get through the discomforts of rainy days and seasonal changes, it's important to take care of your skin on a daily basis.

Here we will introduce four effective self-care methods that you can do in your daily life, focusing on regulating autonomic nervous system disorders.

[1] Establish a regular routine

Getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and exercising moderately are the foundations of a healthy mind and body.

In particular, sleep is directly linked to the stability of the autonomic nervous system and physical condition management, so it is important to keep your bedtime and wake-up times as consistent as possible every day.

Similarly, by being conscious of your morning, noon, and evening meals, you can regulate your body clock and help alleviate discomfort caused by changes in air pressure or weather.

Exercise, even something as simple as light walking or stretching, can help improve blood flow during the day and help you sleep better at night.

[2] Use health management tools

It is also recommended to use a smartphone app to be aware of headaches or poor health caused by changes in barometric pressure or weather in advance.

For example, "Headache-ru" is a weather-related illness prevention app developed by a weather forecaster that allows you to check the times when you are likely to feel unwell due to changes in atmospheric pressure, and records pain and medication.It can be used to adjust your schedule to suit changes in your physical condition and as a guide for self-care.

[3] Do some light stretching

Simply loosening your shoulders and neck can improve blood flow and prevent headaches and fatigue.

In particular, ear rotation is recommended as a simple stretch that helps balance the autonomic nervous system.

Simply lightly grasp both ears with your fingers and slowly rotate them from front to back and back to front.
Doing this several times a day will improve blood flow and relieve tension in your neck and shoulders.

In addition, taking deep breaths before and after ear rotation can increase the relaxation effect and help relieve discomfort caused by changes in barometric pressure or weather.

[4] Make time to relax

Make a conscious effort to take time to relax your mind and body through deep breathing, bathing, yoga, etc.

By slowly soaking in lukewarm water, the parasympathetic nervous system becomes dominant, relieving tension.

Additionally, incorporating aromas such as lavender and chamomile will further enhance the relaxing effect.

Making it a habit to relax your body and mind, even for just a little while, can help alleviate the symptoms of weather-related illness.

Relaxation time with sound

Sounds that contain "1/f fluctuations," such as the sounds of rain, wind, and forest whispers, are said to have the effect of balancing the autonomic nervous system and leading to a relaxed state.

Relax with music that helps combat weather-related illnesses

If you're feeling unwell on a rainy or low-pressure day, we recommend using music for self-care.

Della's piece, "Music for Weather Sickness with Maro," combines the natural sounds of rain, including "1/f fluctuations," recorded in-house in Japan's rich national parks, with the warm, nostalgic tones of a music box. It was created to provide comfort for those experiencing discomfort due to changes in air pressure and weather.

If you think you might be suffering from weather-related illness, or if you're feeling sluggish or have a headache, try taking some time to relax and listen to these natural sounds.

A time that is kind to the mind and body

It's important not to force yourself to move, but to listen to your body.
Even on rainy or cloudy days, try spending some time surrounded by the sounds of nature to gently soothe your mind and body.

Summary: Important things to know to survive weather sickness

In this article, we introduced the causes of meteorological illness (weather pain) and self-care methods to regulate autonomic nervous system disorders.

The most important thing is to know that the inner ear and autonomic nervous system deep inside the body are affected by low pressure, and to understand the pattern of your own discomfort.