Do abrupt changes in weather cause health issues?

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — We have all heard it, and may have even said it ourselves: "These changes in weather are making me sick." But is there any truth to this claim? Dr. Mike Sevilla, from Salem Family Care in Salem, Ohio, said these claims are legitimate. "I get a lot of questions from patients about a change in the weather. They tell me when a cold front comes through, it can affect a lot of symptoms in the body. It is definitely a thing," he explained to Nexstar's WKBN. With winter starting to set in, some parts of the country have already undergone big weather changes. That includes the major "bomb cyclone" that battered the West Coast this week as well as the first snowflakes and freezing temperatures of the season for parts of the Midwest and Ohio Valley. During these drastic weather changes, some people may experience headaches. This is because these changes can cause an imbalance in brain chemicals, according to the Mayo Clinic. Not only that, but weather changes can cause issues for those with chronic pain and arthritis says Dr. Sevilla. "A lot of my patients who have chronic pain symptoms or arthritis symptoms... They know exactly when the front is coming through because it does flare up. Sometimes they have to adjust their medication," he said. The cold weather itself will not, however, make you sick. Summer Clay, a physician’s assistant with Sparrow Health System, previously told Nexstar's WLNS that common colds we catch during winter are not brought on by the weather but by viruses. Becoming congested or developing a runny nose after being outside is instead a sign of our lungs' spasmatic response, Clay explained. The cold weather can weaken our immune systems slightly, as our bodies focus on keeping us warm, according to the Mayo Clinic. A spike in illnesses during the winter months is largely attributed to us being confined to small spaces with limited ventilation.