Weird Ways The Seasons Affect Your Body

Changing seasons can mean a lot more than just needing to wear a jacket. Each change of the seasons can be exciting, laborious and even somewhat emotional. People often associate the seasons with their favorite holidays or the wistful passage of time. The transition from summer to fall, for instance, is a joy for some and a drag for others. It can mean temperature dips that ruin your summer vacation plans. It can mean gorgeous views of multicolored foliage and a decline in sunlight hours. It can mean breaking outdated fashion rules and wearing white after Labor Day.

No matter the season, changing over from one to the next takes its toll in many ways. In addition to the effects that seasons may have on your lifestyle, they can also really mess with your body.

Changes in barometric pressure can mess with your brain and your mood, according to the American Addiction Centers' chief medical officer Dr. Lawrence Weinstein. Low barometric pressure (that drop in air pressure you feel when it's about to storm) has been associated with more emergency psychiatric visits and violent incidents. Studies suggest that this is due to an uptick in impulsive behavior.

Though it doesn't happen to everyone, many people will experience swelling of the hands and feet when it's hot out. This is called heat edema, and it occurs due to widening blood vessels in the body. This can cause blood to pool in your extremities. If this happens to you, don't freak out — it's probably not a big deal. But if you swell to the point of discomfort, don't ignore this symptom. It could be a sign of heat exhaustion.

The increased demand for blood to pump through your heart means that you'll also need more oxygen. As a result, some people find that they breathe heavier and more quickly in the summer months, explains Dr. Theresa Marko, doctor of physical therapy and board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedics, to The Active Times. This is especially risky for people with respiratory problems like COPD and bronchitis. According to a study from Johns Hopkins, emergency hospitalizations for respiratory diseases increase in hot weather. 

In humid air, it's harder for your body to regulate temperature. This can make summer's heat seem even worse than it really is. "When the weather is hot with high humidity, you may not adjust well to the ambient temperature," Dr. Thomas Horowitz of CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center tells us. Sweat you perspire won't evaporate into the air as quickly, and since this is the cooling mechanism that makes sweating helpful, your internal body temperature may not cool down as quickly as it would in lower levels of humidity.

Since humidity makes you more prone to sweating and dehydration, you may also be at risk for muscle cramping, Horowitz explains. Muscle cramps are more likely to occur when you don't drink enough water. When it's humid out, make sure to drink more water than you would normally, especially if you're exercising or spending time outside.

You might feel like you just have more energy in the summer. This isn't just in your head — it's biological. "Most people experience an increase in energy and mood levels as sunlight is increasing," Dr. Nikola Djordjevic, medical advisor for LoudCloudHealth.com, tells The Active Times. "The reason for this is the increased production of vitamin D3 in your body, which is actually produced by your body when it reacts with the ultraviolet rays of the sun." Djordjevic points out that the sunlight has to actually contact your skin directly to instigate vitamin D production. "While driving all day in the sun might give you a tan, your body won't produce vitamin D if the sun's ultraviolet rays have to pass through glass." Geographical location and the angle of the sun can also affect vitamin D production, Djordjevic says. If you experience any of these symptoms, try to spend more time outside — you may not be getting enough vitamin D.

Your skin isn't the only part of your body you need to protect from summer's harsh sun. "It is especially important during the sunniest months of the year to protect your eyes from UV rays," Dr. Joshua Frenkel of Vold Vision tells us. "UV exposure from the sun has been correlated with formation of growths on the eye surface including pingecula and pterygium (surfer's eye), early cataract formation and macular degeneration." But the risks don't end there. "UV exposure to the skin around the eye can also lead to certain types of skin cancers which are much more difficult to treat due to the thinner, delicate skin in this area," Frenkel explains. The best way to prevent this damage from occurring is to wear sunglasses with adequate UV protection. "Ideal specifications would be 100 percent blocking of UVA and UVB light," Frenkel recommends. "All sunglasses sold in the U.S. should meet a minimum standard which is established by ANSI (American National Standards Institute)."

Of all the things that can cause breakouts, summer might be the hardest to avoid. Hot weather is going to hit whether you like it or not, and its effects just might show up on your skin. "Transitioning from winter to summer will, because of the increasing humidity, lend itself to increased oiliness of the skin, which can result in problems such as increased acne," Dr. Kenneth Rothaus, a cosmetic surgeon, author and skin and hair expert, tells The Active Times. Those with clear skin in the winter might experience summertime breakouts. As a result, Rothaus recommends taking a seasonal approach to skincare. "For example, you might use oil-free products incorporating UV blockers in the summer," Rothaus says.

Depending on what you're allergic to, some seasons can result in worse allergies than others. "In the fall, the top allergens are ragweed, mold, mildew and dust mites," optometrist Nathan Rock explains. In spring and summer, allergies are mostly caused by pollen circulating through the air. "These allergens get into the eyes and, for many, cause an allergic response," Rock says. The symptoms of atmospheric allergies, such as those from mold exposure, vary from person to person, but common symptoms include eye watering, redness and itching. "Often, patients will rub the eyes to attempt to alleviate the itch, but this is counterproductive as this causes cells release more histamine," Rock says. "While it feels good for a few seconds, eye rubbing leads to more itching, redness and watering."

Since studies show that the average person gains a few pounds in winter, you might think that a slower metabolism is to blame. But in actuality, your metabolism speeds up during winter, perhaps in an effort to keep your body warm. Research published in the journal Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism shows that the average person's metabolism gets a slight boost when it's cold outside in winter months.

The effect of cold weather on your blood pressure can be caustic. Studies show that heart attack rates spike during the winter months, largely due to the effect of cold weather on blood vessels and hypertension. To reduce your heart risk, cardiologists recommend taking these steps.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mental health disorder characterized by depression that typically occurs at a particular time of year. A common health myth is that SAD can only occur in the winter. But SAD doesn't just hit in winter when it's cold and dark — some people experience SAD during the summer months, and it can occur during any season. "It typically affects females more than males and makes you feel moody, irritable and/or anxious, lowers your energy levels, makes it difficult to wake up in the morning and give you trouble concentrating on tasks," Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, a naturopathic doctor and founder of RNA Reset, tells The Active Times. There are more than 3 million cases of SAD each year in the U.S. If you think you may be affected, consult a mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment. And if a loved one is affected, keep in mind these tips for helping a loved one struggling with depression.

In cold temperatures, muscles lose more heat and will contract. You may also find that you have less mobility during exercise and feel stiff. "In the cold our blood doesn't circulate as well, and our muscles have greater difficulty contracting and relaxing," Dr. Theresa Marko, a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy, explains. "Muscle fibers are like a rope with many fibers, and these fibers need to slide together to become tighter to cause a contraction and then slide apart from one another to relax and go into a non-contracted state. When it's cold out, the muscles have a harder time sliding back and forth and are stiffer." Lack of mobility can increase your risk of injury, so warming up (both in terms of movement and temperature) can help improve the safety and ease of your workout.

Anecdotally, many people experience joint pain or worsened symptoms of arthritis in winter. While there isn't sufficient research to fully explain this correlation yet, medical professionals have a theory about why this occurs. "Most joints in our body are synovial joints that have synovial fluid inside," says Marko. "It's our lubricant, our motor oil. When cold, that lubricant is more viscous and doesn't move around as well to lubricate our joints and bones. It becomes thick like gravy when it's cold."

You might think dehydration most often strikes during summer, but many people don't realize how serious the risk is in winter, too. Dry air causes sweat to evaporate more quickly, so you don't notice you're losing fluids. Additionally, your thirst response is diminished in the cold temperatures. People forget to hydrate, causing dehydration and worsening other conditions such as dry skin and chapped lips. But that's not all that can happen. Here's what really goes on in your body when you don't drink enough water.