And then it struck — the heat. It arrived suddenly one day in May. The vegetation exploded. Everything turned green, Lillkatt set off on adventures, the birds sang at full volume, and bird cherry and lilac began to bloom almost at the same time. The barbecue came out, and so did the outdoor furniture. With the warmth and the light, life suddenly felt a little easier. Summer had arrived, as long-awaited as ever, and here on the West Coast it became warm. Very warm.
So what about summer, heat and Parkinson’s?
I know that heat affects my Parkinson’s positively. Or I think it does. Or perhaps it is even the case that I want the heat and summer to affect my Parkinson’s positively because I enjoy life in summer. I enjoy the light, the long days, the sea and nature, wearing light, airy clothes and shoes, not feeling cold, being able to stay outdoors for a long time, and the way the boundary between indoors and outdoors becomes blurred.
But — because there is a but — is that really true?
I have noticed that I am affected by both heat and cold, and that over the years I have become sensitive to temperature. I have been convinced that heat has only been positive for me, but I am no longer so sure that this is true. Now that the heat arrived so quickly, it made me start thinking:
“Can heat affect me both positively and negatively? If heat affects me negatively, how does that show itself? What can I do about it?” Or: “How can I manage a possible negative effect?”
To answer these questions, I first needed to decide what I experienced as negative.
Start where you are, or Google it
How simple it can be! My own experiences first, and then Google the internet to find other people’s experiences and facts.
What might a negative reaction to summer heat be? How does it show itself? I came up with two things that happen to me when it is warm and that could be due to the heat.
But no, to be honest, I do not think it is particularly clear that what I experience can be linked to Parkinson’s. It could just as easily be due to something else, such as low blood pressure. But I am curious about how common it is to experience differences that may be due to heat.
My curiosity has been awakened, and with the help of Google I find some interesting information.
“How to cope with seasonal changes.”
I read a selection of different texts, a mixture of research, newspaper articles and blog posts, all of which address the question of seasons and whether they affect people with Parkinson’s. To my surprise, I realise that the articles I read show that this is apparently quite a widespread phenomenon.
My interest is caught by an article about how 60 members of a Facebook group responded to the question:
“Do changes in the seasons and weather impact your Parkinson’s symptoms?”
The summary of the answers is interesting. First of all, heat and its effects are a problem for most people. Among other things, many answered that in extreme heat, their muscles stopped cooperating, they felt that their body could not keep up, and many felt exhausted.
(Interested? Read more on Parkinsonsdisease.net.)
What I found was not what I had expected; rather, I had been convinced of the opposite. It was also something I actually recognised in myself. Not only that one is affected by heat, but also the complexity, because it emerged that many people nevertheless felt better during the summer. In other words, you can feel better during the summer while at the same time being more sensitive to temperature, with heat having a negative effect.
Why does weather affect Parkinson’s?
But why is Parkinson’s affected by the weather, by heat? The most likely answer I find to that question provides a fairly clear explanation with a direct link to the disease:
“Parkinson’s is a disease that affects the nervous system, which in turn controls body temperature, and therefore people may be more sensitive to heat and cold. In winter, people with Parkinson’s may have more difficulty feeling and staying warm. In summer, extreme heat can make it difficult for the muscles to function properly.”
Summer, heat and Parkinson’s — enjoy life
We are still only at the beginning of June, and it seems that we will have quite a few warm days this summer. A summer with heat that may affect Parkinson’s in different ways. That makes it good to have knowledge that makes a difference in everyday life, knowledge that makes life a little easier to live.
Of what I have learned about Parkinson’s and heat, it is the knowledge that Parkinson’s symptoms can worsen in summer heat, while one may still feel better overall, that will help me. That part has been difficult for me to understand, to make sense of and to explain to others. Now I know that it is a common phenomenon, and also why the body reacts the way it does.
So now I am enjoying summer. Everything I like about it. The way life becomes so much easier. I wake to birdsong, see the mist dancing in the field outside, the cats taking a morning walk, while the sun slowly rises and promises a new, radiant, warm day. I recharge with positive energy and summer joy.
Thoughts on a warm June day on the West Coast.
Cecilia
Sources
blog.patientslikeme.com
parkinsonsdisease.net
parkinson.org.uk
ScienceDirect: Evidence of climate change impact on Parkinson’s disease