Temperature fluctuations: When alternating heat and cold become a health risk

More and more people around the world are falling victim to the heat. In Europe alone, there were more than 60,000 heat-related deaths in the summer of 2022 – Germany had the third-highest number of heat-related deaths, with 8,173 deaths. However, a study suggests that fluctuating temperatures can also be dangerous .

Between 2000 and 2019, approximately 3.4 percent of all deaths worldwide were due to temperature fluctuations. According to the researchers , temperature fluctuations therefore have a similar impact on global mortality as air pollution.

While heat, and especially abrupt temperature changes, are stressful for the body, the change alone doesn't make us sick, says Andreas Matzarakis, Professor of Environmental Meteorology at the University of Freiburg. "How a person reacts to weather changes always depends on individual circumstances." According to the researcher, while humans normally have a high degree of adaptability, excessive fluctuations can potentially put a strain on the body. According to Matzarakis, this primarily affects two groups: those who are sensitive to the weather and those who are sensitive to the weather.

According to the German Weather Service (DWD), about half of the world's population suffers from weather sensitivity . According to Matzarakis, this mostly affects people who already have underlying conditions, such as high or low blood pressure. People who are sensitive to the weather are particularly affected by temperature fluctuations and often complain of "headaches and migraines, fatigue and exhaustion, joint pain, and sleep disturbances" during drastic weather changes.

In addition, approximately 15 to 20 percent of Germans are considered weather-sensitive . These people struggle even more with the effects of extreme temperature fluctuations. Thus, existing illnesses in these individuals can be exacerbated by the weather. "Massive weather changes can trigger venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolisms, strokes, and heart attacks in people with pre-existing conditions," says Matzarakis.

People who are sensitive to the weather often can't do much more than see a doctor if they experience symptoms. However, according to Matzarakis, people who are sensitive to the weather can train and harden their bodies to cope with these fluctuations. "This works best with exercise in the fresh air – it's not about jogging or extreme sports, but simply taking a walk," says Matzarakis. "Contrast showers and Kneipp baths can also help with hardening."

But even people who don't normally have problems with temperature fluctuations sometimes suffer from them – often without even knowing it. This is especially true when the temperature differences between day and night are very large. When the sun shines during the day and the thermometer reaches 30 degrees Celsius, but temperatures at night and early morning barely reach double digits, this has an impact on our well-being, explains Matzarakis.

Humans suffer most from fluctuations that occur within a few hours, and they also notice this physically. "These include headaches and migraines, but also rheumatic problems or those related to the cardiovascular system," says the expert. Incidentally, complaints of this kind are particularly noticeable in the afternoon, if the correct term is used, explains Matzarakis.

Tip from the editors : Those affected should definitely remember to drink enough and pay attention to their body's signals .

On the website of the German Weather Service (DWD), weather-sensitive people and other interested parties can find out about regional general health problems caused by the weather.

We updated this text on July 21, 2024.