Weather Health Hazards – External and Internal
Natural weather caused events are wreaking havoc from coast to coast. Multiple hurricanes, tornados and floods causing out-of-banks severely swollen rivers, plus huge forest fires and drought are daily items in national news. Hurricanes are always a serious threat with airborne pathogens. We witness loss of life plus terrible destruction of natural habitat, together with almost unbelievable devastation to homes, businesses, highways and all forms of transportation.
But too often overlooked are the serious damaging effects on our bodies, minds and general health. First is the stress from being aware and waiting for an approaching catastrophe. This causes our bodies to increase hormonal production of adrenaline, but also creates a tenseness and strain that can be damaging if existing for an extended period.
Worry, concern and unusually intense physical exertion with exhaustion all contribute. Add poor eating habits and often dehydration, plus lack of adequate rest essential for body restoration. And then if disaster does strike us personally and those we care for, our health is severely challenged.
High winds associated with tornadoes, hurricanes, dust storms and many weather events can bring pathogens including fungus, bacteria and viruses from other areas afar that attempt to invade our body’s as health terrorists. Our bodies are defended in our immediate area of where we live by the immune system of an individual producing antibodies against the local pathogens.
Do you realize for a human to produce antibodies or personal health shields, a pathogen antigen, or name tag, must be internalized by the immune system, analyzed and then, if non-self, an antibody is produced by the B cells as an immune response? Health threats uncommon to our local area, are extra serious because our immune systems have not prepared antibodies to fight back rapidly.
When winds and floods expose us to pathogens we have not previously encountered, our bodies do not have time to produce antibodies as a defense and we are much more susceptible to being affected by what seeks to harm us; especially fungus and parasites uncommon to our area. And wear a protective face mask over the nose and mouth to keep dangerous particles out of the lungs and body. Floods and intense rains can corrupt water sources and contaminate drinking water.
In disasters we seldom eat right, minimize stress, get adequate hydration or get enough rest. Excess stress changes our hormone production that can disrupt disease fighting functions, instructing the body to enter fight mode for protection.
The sky can also bring debris and particulates in high winds, smoke, dust and polluted air. We may not know the chemicals and other pollutants dangerous to breathing, our skin and our eyes, causing fatigue, inflammation, fungal and respiratory issues.
What do we do to prepare our body’s when storms are coming? Energize and amp up your immune response and stock up healthy foods and bottled quality water. Get moderate exercise and have a plan for how you can prepare for extreme weather. Pay attention to authorities and follow safety announcements.
