10 mistakes not to make when the weather changes suddenly

A heat stroke after several days of rain. A sudden drop in temperatures. A strong wind that dries the air… These rapid weather changes are not harmless for our body. Fatigue, headache, joint paindisturbed sleep… Some people are particularly sensitive to it. To better cope with these temperature differenceswe interviewed Dr Fabien Besançon, general practitioner and secretary general of the College of General Medicine (CMG).

This is a very common mistake. After several mild days, it is easy to underestimate a sudden drop in temperatures. Conversely, a sudden increase in heat can quickly cause a feeling of discomfort, fatigue or malaise, especially when the body has not had time to gradually adapt.

“The body takes a little time to adapt, and it requires effort,” recalls Dr. Besançon. When the variations are brutal, the mechanisms of thermal regulation (sweating, chills, dilation of the vessels) do not always have time to take effect effectively…

When the heat hits suddenly, we don’t always have the reflex to drink more. Result : the risk of dehydration increases rapidly.

The first warning sign? Headachesrecalls Dr. Besançon. May then appear:

This is a little-known error. When it’s hot and you sweat more, the body doesn’t just lose water: it also removes saltin particular sodium, essential for the proper functioning of the body.

“If we only consume water, the body may lack sodium. We talk abouthyponatremia », Indicates Dr Fabien Besançon. This imbalance can lead to:

When temperatures rise suddenly, the body does not always have time to acclimatize. Yet, many keep exactly the same rhythm : sports in full sun, journeys during hot times, very active days without additional breaks…

Result: the body can quickly show signs of fatigue:

Please note: the people who work outside or move around a lot during the day are particularly exposed.

When temperatures change suddenly, sleep is often one of the first disrupted factors. Difficulty falling asleep, waking up at night, feeling less restful sleep… The body must handle additional stress and can have difficulty finding your rhythm, especially during the first warm nights.

“When the body temperature remains high, the body recovers less well. Result: you may feel more tired, irritable or have difficulty concentrating the next day. Fortunately, during brief heat episodes, cooler nights generally allow the body to recover more easily than during periods of prolonged heatwave,” estimates Dr Besançon.

When temperatures change suddenly, housing plays an important role in how the body copes with heat or cold. A poorly ventilated room, too hot or too humid can quickly increase fatigue and discomfort…

That said, during short heat episodes, housing often remain relatively temperateespecially after several cool days. “ The walls are still coldso the interior temperature generally remains bearable,” indicates Dr Besançon. The situation becomes more difficult when the heat sets in for several days in a row, syears drop in temperatures at night…

Even in good health, everyone can feel the effects of a sudden change in weather. “Feeling also plays an important role: some people tolerate heat very well, while others are much more sensitive to it », underlines Dr Besançon.

Changes in temperature, wind or stormy episodes can promote the circulation of pollen and aggravate respiratory allergies. Some people then see the appearance or intensification of:

Stormy episodes are particularly monitored, because they can fragment pollens and make them even more irritating to the respiratory tract. In other words, temperature variations can increase respiratory discomfort and general fatigue.

When it is very hot or very cold, some people are tempted to adapt their treatment on their own: change doses or temporarily stop certain tablets.

Certain medications can actually promote dehydration or change the way the body regulates its temperature. This is particularly the case for certain treatments against hypertension, heart disease or psychiatric disorders.

But adapting a treatment without medical supervision is sometimes more dangerous than the heat itself ! “These treatments require special monitoring during periods of heat, but any modification must be discussed with a healthcare professional », insists Dr Fabien Besançon.

The weather doesn’t just affect the body: it can also influence morale and energy on a daily basis. Lack of lightseveral days of rain or, on the contrary, a heavy heat can disrupt sleep and increase the feeling of exhaustion.

Feeling also plays an important role in the way weather variations are experienced. And even without a particular health problem, these changes can give the impression of being “flat” » for a few days, especially in times of stress or accumulated fatigue.

According to Dr Fabien Besançon, some people need to be extra careful: