Why do I get sick every time the weather fluctuates?

A good guess, based on what you describe, is sinus issues. The barometric pressure fluctuates with the weather. For some of us, it can mean sinus pressure resulting in headaches, stuffed head, etc.

To be sure, you might talk to you doc next time you are there. In serious, chronic cases, surgery cam sometimes help. My sister ended up going that route.

If you do not have any issues with high blood pressure, many people get relief with sudafed. (Ever notice that scuba divers use it before dealing with the pressure changes of diving?)

Welcome to the collective, by the way.

Yes I agree with @Marina. i have pretty bad sinus problems, as do my family. With the change in pressure (front comes in, goes out), we all get headaches and general not-feeling-great-ness.

My dad has to sometimes next sinus medication for this problem.

ESP

Stuffed sinuses also cause general malaise.

Hey your not alone, I live in Ohio too and when ever we get into the winter season I usually come down with the same sickness every year. Though I am not as sensitive to changes as you seem to be. When I was younger my knee would ache anytime the pressure would change rapidly out side. I still get a small ache from time to time but not overwhelming like it use to be.

You might want to get a work up at your doctor’s office to see how your immune system is doing. There may be something going on that weakened your defenses against illnesses.

What part of Ohio? I grew up 20 miles south of Cleveland.

Michigan girl here, and the same thing happens to me at the changing seasons.

Something that helps me is not having a draft at night. (If it’s significantly different from day to night, like the summer-to-fall transition, closing the window at night helps.)

And take generally good care – you know, proper eating, enough rest. All the obvious things that are sometimes hard to make time to do.

Changes with the weather are not really the same as changes with the seasons. Those cases could well be seasonal allergies. (Need tests to determine.)

I live in Ohio, doesn’t happen to me.

True, that weather and seasons are not the same thing. However, it’s when the seasonal weather changes that I get this problem. (Times when it’s “60 one day and the next it will be 30 and snowing” seem to happen more often at season change time.)

Changes in the winter weather here usually mean a load of cold, dry air is blowing in from the neighbors to the north, loaded with their pollen. This puts me on a sinus rollercoaster every winter. Daily nasal steroid sprays help a lot, as does a good humidifier (especially during sleeping hours).

Thanks for the posts

@Buckeye I am in CA and have the problem every time it is going from sunny to rainy or ‘yucky’ out! I have had it for years now! The doctor told me I am sensitive to the barometric pressure changes…so I can just about predict a head of time when it is going to be raining! Not fun though, I get the bad headaches for a few days a head and then when it clears up again I am fine till the next time. Try taking a decongestant thats what works for me!

Many metro areas have a web site, perhaps a TV station’s site, where the daily pollen counts are posted. You might try checking that daily, perhaps you can see what counts spike just before you feel bad.

So do non-metro areas. Bookmark weather.com after you’ve put your zip code in.

I also live in Ohio and everytime the weather changes dramatically I find myself getting fatigued, or what seems to be cold/flu symptoms without actual sinus/cough issues. Very weird.

I also found out a few years ago that you can gain/lose allergies. I used to think i was getting colds in the Spring/Summer, turned out I had allergies. Simple OTC allergy medicine clears it right up for me.

@gcoghill That sounds like the same thing that is happening. I will definitely try some OTC drugs the next time the symptoms occur. Thanks a bunch everyone.

I also live in O H I O, right in the center of the state. I have lupus, an autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, etc. When there is a change in the barometric pressure, the pain in my joints increases dramatically. My M.D. explained that the change in pressure causes the synovial fluid between all joints to expand; hence the unrelenting pain. I assume the same could be said for sinus pressure also. Hopes this helps someone.