What are the common misunderstandings about feeling unwell when the seasons change?
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
"I always feel off when the seasons change" is something you will hear constantly in Japan, where spring and autumn bring sharp swings in temperature, pressure and daylight. This article looks at what those swings do to the body, and how far the popular Japanese phrase "disturbed autonomic nerves" (自律神経の乱れ) can be taken.
What is happening
| Change | Effect on the body (general explanation) | Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Daily temperature swing (10°C or more) | Strain on temperature regulation → sluggishness, tiredness. Chilly mornings and evenings stiffen the neck and shoulders | Adjust with layers (keep the "three necks" — neck, wrists, ankles — warm); match bedding to the season |
| Pressure changes (spring and autumn fronts, typhoons) | Many people report headaches, joint pain and dizziness ("weather sickness" 気象病 / "weather pain" 天気痛). One theory is that a pressure sensor in the inner ear is involved | Get enough sleep, prepare using the forecast, see a doctor if the pain is severe |
| Change in daylight hours | Body clock drifts → hard to get up, hard to sleep at night | Fix your wake-up time; get morning light |
| Pollen and dust | Nose, eye and skin symptoms | See our article on pollen |
| Life changes (April and September) | Stress of job transfers and the new school term (Japan's school and business year starts in April) | Rest and sleep |
- "Autonomic dysfunction" (自律神経失調症, jiritsu shinkei shitchō-shō) is a term used customarily in Japan; it is not an established disease name matching the international classification (ICD). It is used as an umbrella for symptoms; identifying the cause and managing it is a job for a medical institution.
- "Weather sickness" and "weather pain" are terms that spread in Japan in the 2010s. Research links falling pressure with headaches and dizziness, but the mechanism is still being worked out.
- Feeling unwell in autumn often overlaps with carried-over summer fatigue (natsubate, 夏バテ) (see that article).
[Verify] Check the status of "autonomic dysfunction" against the MHLW's e-Health Net, and the explanation of weather sickness against materials from the relevant societies and research.
Misunderstanding 1｜Feeling off at the change of seasons is imaginary
Temperature gaps, pressure and daylight are measurable changes in the environment, and they strain temperature regulation and sleep. Adjusting clothing, bedding and wake-up time to the environment is the practical response.
Misunderstanding 2｜I have caught a disease called "autonomic dysfunction"
It is an umbrella term for symptoms, not an established disease name. Behind the symptoms there may be thyroid problems, anaemia, depression or a sleep disorder. If it persists, have the cause checked at a medical institution.
Misunderstanding 3｜Weather headaches are all in your head
Research links pressure changes with headaches, and "weather sickness" is gaining recognition. People with migraine especially. If the pain is severe or frequent, see a headache clinic or a neurologist.
Misunderstanding 4｜Get fit and the seasons will stop affecting you
A habit of exercise helps stabilise temperature regulation and sleep, but it does not make the effects of pressure and daylight disappear. Overdoing exercise tires you out instead.
Misunderstanding 5｜Only spring and autumn need care
The rainy season, typhoons and winter temperature swings cause the same problems by the same mechanism. Noticing "big temperature swings this week" in the forecast is the measure people in Japan share.
---
Sources
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, e-Health Net, *Autonomic dysfunction* [自律神経失調症]
https://www.e-healthnet.mhlw.go.jp/information/dictionary/heart/yk-058.html
- Japan Meteorological Agency, *Weather data (daily temperature range and pressure)* [気象データ（日々の気温差・気圧）]
https://www.data.jma.go.jp/stats/etrn/
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, *Sleep Guide for Health Promotion 2023* [健康づくりのための睡眠ガイド2023] (the body clock and light)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10904750/001181265.pdf
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
About this article
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
This article is not meant to diagnose or manage any specific medical condition. If you are worried about your health, see a doctor rather than relying on your own judgement.
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