The perils of temperature fluctuations during winter months

By Carol Baldwin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Wakaw Recorder

For anyone who might have doubted that Canada has one of the most severe winter climates in the world, the weather last weekend clarified the fact. 

After an extreme cold event, thoughts often turn to infrastructure, houses, sidewalks, and vehicles. People are reminded to salt walkways and remove snow to reduce the risk of injury from slipping on ice. They check pipes, since these may be frozen, and as water expands when it freezes, it can cause pipes to burst, and leaks may occur behind walls and be difficult to notice.

Icicles and their placement can indicate ice dams. If there are large icicles with a thick layer of ice on the roof’s overhang, it might be a sign of ice damming. Ice dams form when snow begins to melt and run down the roof and refreeze. The ice then creates a barrier (dam) that prevents water from draining off the roof, instead trapping the water and making it seep under shingles and into the building, damaging walls, ceilings, and potentially causing mould. Fluctuating temperatures are the greatest risk of ice dams, and it is a winter home hazard that can cause tremendous damage to a home. Experts state that if icicles or ice forms on a building’s siding, it is usually a sign of ice damming, and individuals should consider contacting an ice dam removal company and contacting their insurance company.

Fluctuating temperatures are just as bad for a building’s foundation as they are for a roof. The ground expands as it freezes, putting pressure on foundation walls. As temperatures change and ice and snow melt, cracks can form and, over time, allow moisture to enter one’s home, compromising its structural integrity. Similar to the impact of pressure against the home’s foundation, the changes in soil during the winter can push upwards on a home’s foundation, and the uneven upward movement or “frost heave” can also cause cracks in the foundation.

Aside from the impacts on their homes, an extreme cold event should also have people watching their health, some researchers say. Emergency experts predict the extra warm days could make people less prepared for cold weather. Hypothermia can occur during extreme cold, but also in moderately chilled conditions, underscoring the subtle dangers of even mild winter temperatures. Health effects after an extreme cold event can take up to a few weeks to occur.

A study co-authored by Fu Congbin and printed on www.earth.com, titled Sudden Temperature Swings are a Rising Health Hazard, suggests that extreme day-to-day temperature change should be classified as a distinct and independent extreme climate event.

Rapid temperature changes force the body to work harder to maintain its internal balance, leading to heightened stress, weakened immunity, and exacerbated chronic conditions. Older adults are more sensitive because their bodies have a diminished ability to regulate temperature. Focusing on maintaining stable indoor temperatures, proper hydration, immune-boosting nutrition, and adequate rest will all play a key role in staying healthy, regardless of what the forecast predicts.

Temperature changes can play an indirect role in susceptibility and transmission. When the body expends energy on thermoregulation, particularly in cold environments, it may temporarily impact the efficiency of the immune system. A decrease in nasal tissue temperature can reduce the immune response, potentially making individuals more susceptible to viruses. This reduction in immune function can make it easier for viruses to attach to and infect nasal cells. (https://biologyinsights.com/can-drastic-temperature-change-make-you-sick/)

Research shows that sudden weather changes affect our immune system, respiratory function, and even chronic conditions. Barometric pressure changes can trigger migraine headaches, and many arthritis patients report increased discomfort during rapid weather changes. This discomfort is possibly due to changes in synovial fluid viscosity, barometric pressure affecting joint expansion, and increased inflammatory responses. Weather conditions that change rapidly from brutally cold to unseasonably warm and then back to cold again reflect the same rapid changes in the barometric pressure. The human body can acclimate to temperature changes, but it does not happen instantly. It can take many days, or even up to two weeks, for the body to fully adapt to new weather conditions.

The biggest health risk of rapid temperature fluctuations in a short period affects cardiovascular and respiratory patients, with data suggesting increased incidents of hospitalization for heart failure. There is also evidence that sudden temperature fluctuations can lead to symptom flares in certain autoimmune conditions, such as lupus. (https://info.dopplerhealth.com/blog/articles/extreme-temperature-change-temperature-fluctuation) There is also an elevated risk of hospitalization for those with chronic respiratory conditions, such as asthma or COPD, during periods with an abnormally wide daytime or day-to-day temperature range. 

Even if extreme temperature change does not send a person to the hospital, if they have a pre-existing respiratory or cardiac condition, they can experience very uncomfortable symptoms, such as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and tightness in the chest.