METEOSENSITIVITY AMONG MENTAL WORKERS

Abstract

<strong>This study</strong> investigates the incidence of meteosensitivity (MS) and its manifestations among intellectual workers, and the correlation between MS and psychological states of the patients. Patients were administered a standardized questionnaire of risk factors (RF) of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including MS; CES-D questionnaire to reveal depression; and self-monitoring map. Incidence of MS was established in 99 of 196 intellectual workers (50.5%): 34 men (40%) and 65 women (58.6%). In a group of 33 volunteers with MS, 45.5% were revealed to have various degrees of depression. Among people who exhibited manifestations of depression, the number of days of feeling unwell Physiological meteosensitivity (MS) - the property of the body to maintain its health by harmonizing life-supporting processes with solar, geophysical, meteorological and other processes in the environment. In a healthy person with good reserve capabilities of adaptation mechanisms, internal processes caused by physiological MS do not cause any painful sensations. In the case of the weakening of the body due to illness, stress, or exhaustion person may experience pathological meteopathic reactions, often complicating the course of the underlying disease, reducing the effectiveness of treatment, and worsening the patient’s quality of life. Differences in atmospheric pressure, especially spasmodic, negatively affect the circulatory system, vascular tone, and arterial pressure. High humidity also has negative effects on health. During periods of so-called “magnetic storms”, a deterioration of wellbeing is even possible in a completely healthy person, manifested by disturbance in memory and concentration and occurrence of nervous breakdowns. Cardiac patients are most sensitive to various changes in weather conditions [1-5]. It is noticed that people living in cities suffer from meteorological dependence much more than those who live in rural areas. This is in relationship to weather conditions significantly exceeded that of people who exhibited no depressive signs. Most people in the observation group complained of worsening in self-perceived well-being during the days in which the combination of northern or southern winds, high atmospheric pressure, and high humidity was registered. Sensitivity to showers was recorded in 69.7% of individuals with MS. <strong>Results</strong> of this study confirm the potential utility of providing self-management education to patients with MS and development of personalized programs for alleviating severity of individual’s reaction to fluctuations in certain meteorological parameters.