Climate/weather influence on symptoms
 

I've had several multi-day episodes of headaches, dizziness and severe fatigue. Additionally, I am much more congested than usual. I've also noticed that humidity levels have increased dramatically and are above monthly averages. Lots of rain too. The summer was also fairly dry by local standards. Last week, I basically didn't leave the house for week, then I felt better for a couple days and now the same things have plagued me again for the past three days.

Is it fair to say that my symptoms might be directly related to the climate/weather? Can humidity result in increased swelling in the brain?

Has anyone else experienced similar issues?

They might be related to the weather but I doubt it.

I Feel slightly better today. Humidity has dropped to mid 60s and it was in the mid 95s earlier this week. Rain has also subsided.

However, it's still overcast and more rain in on the horizon...

I do live in the PacNW to be fair.

I've noticed a correlation between rain and headaches, personally.

I have done a major amount of record keeping and research over the past 5 years, and have found a lot of correlation between the weather and my head issues. I have definitely found a very predictable pattern between pressure changes in particular. I used to think that humidity was the culprit, but have since become more and more convinced that it is the pressure changes (often accompanies a weather system with rain). I want to trial some time on the coast this winter just to prove this theory. I actually moved my family out of WI, and to WA to see if it would help my head. It was a major help, but still go to AZ for the winter months, as the pressure changes become worse in the fall and winter.

I did really well (almost 100%) this summer, but as soon as Sept came, I began to have issues with head pressure, migraines, and everything that goes with it. I have been pretty much laid up for the past 2 weeks, as we have been hit by a rollercoaster of pressure changes here in WA that remind me a lot of my WI days.

Since I was not able to do much, I dug into the spreadsheets and weather data again, and came up with something that I have wanted to generate for a long time. It is a map that plots the annual pressure changes on a map of the US shown in "Sick Units". "Sick Units" on this map basically predict the number of sick days that I would experience each year from the weather pressure changes. (I have calibrated it by living in WI, WA, and AZ.) San Diego, Miami, and Hawaii have the least changes throughout the year, and ND has the most. Again, this only factors in pressure changes, as I have yet to see if humidity is an factor. I plan to spend some time in the desert this winter, and then over on the humid coast and see what happens. The map is not perfect, but is attached for your interest.

My neurologist told me years ago that many of his patients report worsened symptoms with weather changes, but he did not have any evidence to support that. Soon I will have enough information to write a book, and hope that it will be of some use to those who research this topic.