How Weather Affects Health

Getting chilled or being wet has often been associated with catching a cold or other illness. In some areas, having your ears unprotected in a windstorm has also been tied to a problem...ear infections. However, weather may not always cause the problems associated with it. On the other hand, weather can cause problems you may not have been aware of.
Cold weather does not cause colds or the flu. It may slightly weaken your immune system, particularly after prolonged exposure. However, the real reason people catch more illnesses when the weather is cold is proximity. We tend to stay indoors and are around many more people than usual.
That doesn't mean cold weather has no direct affect on your health. If you have asthma, for example, cold weather has the potential of triggering an attack. It can cause spasms in the bronchial passageways, causing tightness and difficulty breathing.
Those with heart disease also have to be careful when the thermometer falls. Being exposed to it can stress the cardiovascular system. Our natural response to cold is to keep the body core warm, which can be very hard on those with circulatory problems.
Aside from heat exhaustion and heat stroke, hot weather can create more difficulties. You're more likely to have a headache in hot weather, particularly if you are prone to migraines. Dehydration can be another issue. When exposed to high temperatures, be sure to drink plenty of fluids.
"Get out of those wet things before you catch your death of cold," is often heard when returning from a trip outside in wet weather. However, like cold weather there is no connection. It is more likely that being indoors is the culprit. That doesn't mean rain can't make an illness worse. If you are already ill, stay indoors on rainy days.
Snow: The problems caused by snow are not so much catching an illness, it's more along the lines of discovering the hard way one exists. There are frequent reports of elderly people having heart attacks due to shoveling snow. Many of them never knew they were at risk. If you live in an area that gets snow, it's a good idea to make sure you are physically able to shovel it up. If you aren't, it might be a good idea to hire someone else to do it for you.
I doubt that wind can cause an ear infection all by itself, but it can cause other problems. Wind stirs up dust, mold spores and pollen which can cause allergy sufferers difficulties. If it's strong enough, it can lodge foreign objects in the eyes and the ears. Those can lead to an infection if not handled properly. It may also stir up bacteria, though that is a little more difficult.
As you can see, weather can affect your health, though perhaps not the way you thought it would. It's a good idea to talk with your doctor to see if the local weather may pose risks for you or your family. If you plan to move to a new area, do some research to see if you need to take any precautions. It's better to be prepared and not need the information.