Headaches are so severe during the rainy season that it is difficult to concentrate… “Men’s weather-related illnesses,” a stubborn disorder, are on the rise!　The solution is

It took some people several years to discover that they had a “weather-related disease…

Weather-related illnesses are physical and mental problems caused by changes in atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, and other weather conditions. Also known as weather-related illness, headaches and fatigue occur during the rainy season, on rainy days, and when typhoons are approaching. It is a common complaint among women, but many men suffer from it as well.

Dr. Tsukasa Kudeken, director of the Setagaya Clinic of Internal Medicine and Neurology and an expert on weather-related diseases, says, “The characteristic symptoms are headaches, fatigue, and a sense of hopelessness.

Characteristic symptoms are headache, fatigue, and dizziness. Other symptoms include stiff shoulders and neck, nausea, joint pain, palpitations, allergic symptoms, depression, and anxiety.

In the rainy season, headaches are so severe that it is difficult to concentrate,” says one patient, “and I often miss work or have trouble getting through my day.

Because I feel sick every time the weather gets bad and recover when the weather gets better, people think I am ‘too anxious’ or ‘mentally challenged,’ and don’t understand me.

Because it is caused by weather changes, for example, people often complain of headaches and dizziness and have MRI scans, electrocardiograms, and hearing tests that show no abnormalities, and it can take years before they are diagnosed as having a weather-related disease.”

About seven years ago, when Dr. Kudeken first established the outpatient clinic for weather-related illnesses, the ratio of patients was 8 women to 2 men, but in recent years the ratio has been 7 women to 3 men, and the number of consultations from men has increased slightly.

The weather-related illness is related to the inner ear, which is the organ in the ear that senses atmospheric pressure. A sudden drop in atmospheric pressure causes the inner ear to swell, resulting in dizziness and other ear problems such as ear pain and a feeling of stuffiness.

Even without ear symptoms, signals are transmitted to the brain, causing a variety of malfunctions through the autonomic nervous system. Because the autonomic nervous system is concentrated around the spine, people who have symptoms of weather-related diseases and who use computers for long periods of time with poor posture tend to have a tendency to worsen the condition.

The reason for the increase in men may have to do with the extended time spent using computers and smartphones and the lack of exercise to reset it.”

Overtime work, sitting, stress…lack of maintenance worsens ailments.

Dr. Kuteken points out that one of the characteristics of men is that “many of them put up with problems even if they have them. This leads to the development of “deep-rooted problems,” such as one problem becoming multiple problems, and feeling ill even on sunny days.

The patient is seen by the doctor after his/her daily life has been interfered with: “As a result of enduring to the limit, the body does not listen to me, I have mental difficulties, headache medicine is no longer effective, and I feel sleepy whether I sleep or not. Still, they say they cannot take time off or cannot see the doctor because they work during the week. For men of working age, I would like them to see any illness as a sign from their bodies that they need to take a break.

There are two checkpoints to see if you have a weather-related illness.

• Check for Weather-related Illnesses
• (1) I feel sick when the weather is bad.
• (2) I can somehow anticipate changes in the weather before it rains or before the weather worsens.

Dr. Kuteken says that people who fall into both categories (1) and (2) are considered to have a high probability of having a weather-related disease, while those who fall into either category have about an 80% chance of having a weather-related disease. In addition, if the body continues to suffer from a lack of maintenance, the symptoms of weather-related illnesses are likely to intensify.

One common characteristic of people who are susceptible to the effects of weather, or weather-related diseases, is desk work and prolonged use of computers and smartphones.

The strain on the bones and muscles around the neck and shoulders causes severe headaches and fatigue. Men who work overtime and sit from morning to night should pay particular attention to this. Other people who do not take care of their bodies by stretching and exercising, who are under a lot of stress, and who do not get enough sleep also fall into this category.”

Ear and facial massages and stretching can ease symptoms.

If you do not feel well every time it rains, you may feel depressed, but if you know that your illness is “weather-related,” you can take action before the weather breaks. However, if you know that your illness is “caused by the weather,” you can take action before the weather breaks.

If you think you may have a weather-related illness, get in the habit of using a health management application based on barometric pressure forecasts to check the barometric pressure for the next few days.

If you think, ‘I might not feel well tomorrow,’ stop trying to ‘hang in there a little longer’ by leaving work early or going to bed early. Before a low-pressure day, try to take it easy.

Ear massage is an effective way to take care of yourself before the weather changes.

• How to perform an ear massage.
• (1) Pinch the ear with the index finger and thumb, and pull it to the extent that it feels comfortable, such as straight across, up, or down.
• (2) While pinching the ear, massage the ear by rotating it forward or backward.

In addition, it is also recommended to massage the temples in a circular motion with the fingers to prevent headaches, and to massage the chin area under the cheekbones with the fingers. In addition, when working at a computer for long periods of time, it is important to set a timer and stretch once an hour to reset your stiffened body.

If you continue to experience pain despite self-care, see a medical professional as soon as possible.

First, list your top three most painful ailments. If you have a headache, see a headache clinic, neurosurgery, or internal medicine; if you have fatigue, see an internist; if you have dizziness, see an otolaryngologist; if you have severe mental problems, see a psychosomatic medicine or psychiatry department.

If there is still no abnormality and the cause cannot be determined, a visit to an outpatient meteorology clinic will go smoothly.

If left unchecked, the debt will quickly mount up. Nothing good can come from putting up with poor health,” says Dr. Kuteken. By dealing with the problem early, it will result in less inconvenience to the workplace, and if the illness is alleviated, work performance will improve. During the rainy season, when atmospheric pressure is unstable, it is a good time to take care of your physical and mental maintenance.

Tsukasa Kudeken is the director of the Setagaya Internal Medicine and Neurology Clinic. Doctor of Medicine. After working at Toho University Medical Center Omori Hospital and Saiseikai Yokohama Tobu Hospital, he established Setagaya Internal Medicine and Neurology Clinic. In 2004, he established the “Outpatient Clinic for Meteorological Diseases and Weather-related Diseases” and has treated more than 5,000 patients. After the COVID-19 crisis, he also started online clinic. Author of “Hints and Self-Care to Relieve Low-Pressure Disorders: A Handbook for Weather-related Diseases” (Seibundo Shinkosha) and other books.