Nearly 100 years ago, doctors at the Mayo Clinic wanted to know if aching joints could predict the weather...
In 1929, they published a study examining whether arthritis patients could actually sense an approaching storm when their joints ache. The doctors even referred to these folks as "weather prophets."
There's even a word for when symptoms seem to be triggered – or worsened – when the weather changes: meteoropathy.
This includes symptoms like headaches, achy joints, fatigue, mood changes, and more. But meteoropathy isn't an officially recognized medical diagnosis. And scientists are still figuring out just how much the weather is to blame.
So, can that achy knee of yours moonlight as a meteorologist?
Before we answer that question, here's a quick Meteorology 101 lesson...
Barometric pressure is the weight of the air that's pushing down on us. When the air rises and cools, that's called low barometric pressure, or a "low-pressure system"... and it typically gives way to clouds and sometimes storms.
On the flip side, high-pressure systems involve air that sinks and warms, usually bringing clearer skies.
Cold air is denser than warm air. So during colder seasons, barometric pressure tends to be higher.
You're probably familiar with the term "cold front"... which just means a swath of cold air. When a cold front approaches, barometric pressure begins to drop and then rises after the cold front leaves.
Keeping that in mind, here's what these changes mean for your body...
Your Head
Ever notice a headache coming on when the sky turns gray?
A 2023 study of more than 4,000 adults aged 34 on average found that lower barometric pressure, changes in pressure, more rain, and higher humidity were linked to a higher number of headaches.
One possible reason is the sudden shift to lower barometric pressure... which can cause the pressure inside your sinuses to increase. And that sinus headache can give way to a dreaded migraine.
A study published this year supports the connection between low barometric pressure and migraines. Researchers investigated 69,808 migraine attacks reported by 7,418 Canadians. And they linked these attacks to falling barometric pressure, colder winter temperatures, and certain air pollutants.
Dehydration is also a big headache trigger. So if I feel a headache coming on, I chug some water just in case. I also follow that up with five minutes of slow, deep breathing, which can help relieve some of the tension and stress causing a nasty headache.
If you suspect that weather triggers your headaches, start keeping a diary to take with you to your next doctor's appointment. Record things like when the pain started, what the weather was like, how you slept, and whether you skipped a meal.
Your Blood
When the temperatures drop, your blood vessels narrow to conserve heat. And that can raise your blood pressure...
A 2023 study looked at data for more than 60,000 folks aged 62 on average over a five-year period. These individuals all had high blood pressure, or hypertension. Researchers found that the average systolic blood pressure (the top number of a blood-pressure reading) was slightly higher in the winter than in the summer. Participants were 10% more likely to be able to control their blood pressure in the summer, compared with an 8% lower likelihood in the winter.
And it's not just the outside temperature that matters. A Japanese study published this year found a similar correlation between higher blood pressure and lower indoor temperatures...
Researchers tracked blood-pressure readings taken at home among 779 adults. They observed that for every 1-degree Celsius drop in room temperature, participants' morning systolic blood pressure reading increased by roughly one point.
Cold temperatures and lower barometric pressure can also thicken the blood. So if you suffer from hypertension, I recommend keeping tabs on your blood pressure at home as the weather cools.
Your Joints
When barometric pressure drops, the weight pressing down on your body decreases, and your soft tissues can end up slightly swelling.
Cold temperatures can also thicken the synovial fluid that lubricates and cushions your joints. When that happens, that gooier fluid can't slide around very well to protect your joints from rubbing against each other.
But don't let chilly weather glue you to the couch. My advice is to try to stay active this winter. (Just don't strain yourself, though.) Keeping up with your resistance exercises strengthens your bones and muscles – as well as the tendons and ligaments which provide protection for your joints.
I also love taking hot baths and hitting up the sauna more often when it's cold out. The heat relaxes tight muscles and thins out synovial fluid. But those aren't the only benefits of heat... It's also a powerful way to unlock certain "longevity" genes in your DNA. I covered the health benefits of heat therapy in the February issue of my Retirement Millionaire newsletter. Not a subscriber? Take a 30-day look.
What We're Reading...
- Did you miss it? Behold, the power of heat therapy.
- Something different: Eating this mushroom could make you see tiny people.
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
November 5, 2026