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One day it’s icy and snowy, the next the sun is shining and your winter coat stays in the closet. These rapid temperature swings don’t just feel strange — they can put real stress on your body. Biometeorology divides people into three groups: those who are weather‑reactive, weather‑sensitive, or weather‑susceptible.
How your body reacts to weather changes
Which group you fall into depends on several factors. Andreas Matzarakis, professor of environmental meteorology at the University of Freiburg, explains in an Ö1 interview that your reaction is shaped by your general health, medical history, hormonal changes, stress levels, diet, and other environmental influences. A weather shift alone won’t make you sick, but it can trigger noticeable discomfort — depending on how quickly your body adapts to the new conditions.
Weather‑reactive, weather‑sensitive, weather‑susceptible
- Weather‑reactive people adapt quickly. Even big temperature jumps don’t bother them.
- Weather‑sensitive people often struggle with headaches, joint pain, dizziness, or fatigue. Surveys show that up to half of people consider themselves part of this group. The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but researchers suspect the autonomic nervous system may not adjust fast enough to sudden environmental changes.
- Weather‑susceptible people have the hardest time. This group usually includes people with pre‑existing conditions, especially heart or circulatory issues. According to Matzarakis, about 15–20% of the population reacts strongly to weather changes. When temperature and air pressure shift, blood vessels and blood pressure shift too — which can cause serious health problems in vulnerable individuals. Sometimes even blood pressure medication needs to be adjusted.
What helps
Matzarakis recommends that weather‑sensitive people take preventive steps: get enough sleep, eat a balanced diet, and reduce stress. The most effective long‑term strategy, he says, is to strengthen and train the body — especially through regular outdoor activity. Alternating hot‑cold showers, Kneipp therapy, and regular sauna sessions can also help the body adapt more easily to temperature changes and prepare for sudden weather shifts.
- Hector Pascua with reports from heute.at/picture: canva.com
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