by Nayab Naseer

Created on: March 14, 2009

Weather has a profound effect on human health and well-being. People generally perform at their best when they are not under stress from the surroundings, and that includes the weather.

People generally feel low at times of summer heat or winter cold, and high during the pleasant spring climate.

EFFECT OF THE HEAT

Many people find it difficult to work when the climate is hot and humid. This is because of the high moisture content during hot periods that lessen the body's ability to evaporate perspiration and induce heat stress. People affected by heat stress tend to become lethargic, procrastinate, react late, encounter sleeplessness, and become irritated easily. A research conducted by Persinger in 1975 found significant negative relationships between relative humidity and "mood scores", which represent a measure of happiness. When the relative humidity is high, the chance for heat stress is great and lesser the chances of people being happy. Research has also found out that heat wave tends to increase crime and violence.

Another factor affecting human mental activity is atmospheric pressure. Researchers in the Ukraine have found that slight low-frequency fluctuations in atmospheric pressure can influence human mental activity, causing significant changes in attention and short-term memory functions. This could be reason people find it hard to concentrate at work or remember things.

A number of studies have also found relationships between migraine attacks and rapid changes in atmospheric pressure. A study conducted by Cull in 1981 found fewer occurrences of migraine attacks when atmospheric pressure was low. Solar radiation triggers migraine attacks, and low pressure is associated with a decrease in sunshine. However, a Canadian Climate Center study in 1981 found that migraines were most likely to occur on days with falling pressure, rising humidity, high winds, and rapid temperature fluctuations.

A study by Rosen in 1979 also relates atmospheric pressure changes to human well-being. He notes that rapid pressure fluctuations may penetrate buildings and propagate wave energy from their source like ripples in a pond, and that humans are sensitive to such changes.

S.A.D.

If extreme heat from the sun can cause a debilitating effect on people's mental health, lack of sufficient heat can also cause the same effect.

The hypothalamus in the human brain controls the body's main functions like mood, activity, sleep, temperature, appetite, and sex drive. This hypothalamus is

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