How do large temperature variations impact our health?

Sudden changes in temperature don’t just disrupt our wardrobe : they can also exhaust our body. Fatiguemigraines, dizziness, joint pain… Our body must constantly adapt to heat and cold.

Why are we so sensitive to temperature variations? Can you really get sick after sudden change from cold to hot ? And how can you help your body adapt better?

The human body works a bit like a thermostat. Its mission: to maintain a stable internal temperature, around 37°C.

When it is very hot or very cold, or when temperatures change suddenly, he must adapt urgently !

This adaptation mobilizes several mechanisms:

The problem is that these adjustments require a lot of effort from the body. And in certain fragile people, they can be difficult to manage.

In spring, cold and warm air masses can alternate very quickly. Result: the thermometer sometimes rises or falls by more than 10°C in a few days, even in a few hours…

When we suddenly move from a hot environment to a cold environment, blood vessels contract quickly to limit heat loss. This is called the vasoconstriction :

Conversely, when we move from a cold environment to a warm environment, the vessels dilate to evacuate body heat. There blood pressure may then decrease temporarily, especially in sensitive or dehydrated people. Result :

There does not exist no precise universal threshold. Sensitivity to temperature variations depends on many factors: age, state of health, level of fatigue,humiditythe wind or even the exposure time.

But in practice, a difference of more than 10°C between two environments can already be difficult for some people to bear, especially when the change is abrupt and repeated several times during the day.

This is often the case:

Reactions vary from person to person. In most cases, symptoms remain mildbut they can be very uncomfortable…

Extreme heat often disrupts sleep. At night, the body needs to lower its internal temperature to recover properly. But when it is too hot, this mechanism works less well.

Please note: intense cold can also tire the body. To maintain its temperature around 37°C, the body must expend more energy, which can increase the feeling of fatigue.

Rapid changes in temperature can cause:

These symptoms are sometimes linked to variations in blood pressure and dehydration.

As noted above, heat promotes dilation of blood vessels. In some people, circulation becomes more difficult, especially in the legs. Several signs may appear:

Conversely, cold reduces the diameter of blood vessels. Blood pressure can then temporarily increase, putting more strain on the heart.

Many people report feeling more pain when the weather changes suddenly. Variations in temperature and humidity can in fact accentuate:

People suffering fromosteoarthritis or rheumatism are therefore often the most sensitive to thermal variations.

Heat often reduces appetite. The body seeks to produce less heat during digestion. We then more want fresh and light meals.

Conversely, cold can increase feelings of hungerbecause the body spends more energy to maintain its body temperature.

On the other hand, the sudden variations can temporarily weaken the body :

Air conditioning can also dry out the air and irritate the respiratory tract. !

Result: we are sometimes more vulnerable to germs present in the environment.

We are not all equal when it comes to sudden temperature changes. Some people have more difficulty regulating their body heat or adapting quickly to hot and cold.

This is particularly the case:

Good news: a few simple actions can limit the effects of temperature variations and help the body to better tolerate these changes.

In summer, it is better avoid excessive air conditioning and keep a difference of 5 to 7°C between inside and outside.

Dehydration increases fatigue and the feeling of malaise.

The ideal is to wear several layers of clothing to be able to easily adapt to temperature changes during the day.

During hot weather:

Physical activity improves blood circulation and helps the body better adapt to temperature variations. Be careful, however: in periods of high heat, it is better avoid intense efforts during the hottest hours of the day and favor the morning or evening.

Oui, to a certain extent. The body has a capacity for adaptation called “acclimatization”.

After several days of progressive exposure to heat or cold, the body gradually learns to better manage temperature variations. For example, perspiration becomes more effective in heat, while blood circulation gradually adapts to the cold, which makes it easier to withstand the unusual weather episodes.

But this ability to adapt has its limits. When temperature changes are too rapid, too frequent or extreme, the body can have difficulty keeping up, especially when the body is already tired or weakened…