Do Drastic Changes in Louisiana Temperatures Really Make You Sick?

Much of the Gulf South is about to experience winter for a few days. When you hang out near the Gulf of Mexico in places like Lake Charles, Lafayette, Abbeville, and Morgan City you never really get the full effects of winter. We only get the occasional plant-killing frost, the even less likely accumulation of snow, and the almost never-happens ice storm down here near where the map turns blue.

What we do get is annoying shifts in temperatures that make our friends in the HVAC business work weekends and carry a large assortment of replacement parts. During the late fall and winter months, we experience most of our roller coaster ups and downs with creature comforts in our homes.

But the fact that we are either having to cool down or heat up quite often over the course of the same day is that really something that affects our health and well-being? The short answer is no. The actual change in temperature is not the true catalyst for the sniffling, sneezing, dry cough, or congestion many of us are experiencing right now but it is a contributing factor.

Changes in weather can cause discomfort in your sinuses and in your joints. Ask anyone who has broken a bone if they can't "feel the weather changes" and you might be surprised at how accurate they can predict changes in the forecast just because of the discomfort. However, those conditions are generally associated with changes in atmospheric pressure and are not directly related to temperature.

The more likely scenario that contributes to you not feeling your best when there are major changes in the weather is the steps you take to stay comfortable. When it's cold, you might run a heater. This dries out the air and makes your nasal passages feel dry. This can cause a cough or a headache and even contribute to a post-nasal drip which causes sore throats and coughs.

That's why, and it's hard to believe I am saying this in Louisiana, you need to add humidity or moisture to your airspace if you run a heater. Trust me, a humidifier will do wonders for your breathing, especially on nights when you have the heater on.

In the case of aches and pains brought on by the weather, you can usually quell those discomforts with over-the-counter products and remedies. If your conditions persist, then you'll want to visit a healthcare professional.

Another aspect of suddenly cold temperatures is the fact we find ourselves indoors with others more often than we might if the weather and the temperatures were pleasant. It's this close-knit togetherness that allows us to share germs, viruses, and "bugs" and that does explain why when someone we know gets sick we all get sick.

"Wash your hands" is always good advice. The hands are the gateway to the mouth and the mouth and the nose are the gateway to getting inside your body. So keep those hands clean, cover your mouth if you cough, and most importantly, if you don't feel well, stay home.