10 Topics for exams - topic11.




                                     9.

                          Feeling under the weather



       A long time ago when people lived mostly out-of-doors, they were
close to nature. They noticed that plants, mammals, insects and birds
sensed the coming of  any weather change sooner than people did. So when
ancient people saw animals seeking shelter, they did, too.
Nowadays people have much more problems and interferes of weather
conditions.
         Some people are very sensitive to humidity. People who have
arthritis are, in a sense, “living hydrometers”. High humidity causes the
fluids in their tissues and joints to increase, making movement difficult
and painful. That is why many older people say, “it’s going to rain. I can
feel it in my bones”. They actually can.
         Few  people in northern countries enjoy the long, dark nights and
cold temperatures of winter. According to scientists, wintery conditions
may be making some people ill. They suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder
(SAD) or the winter blues. Sufferers become depressed as the days become
shorter but recover rapidly in spring. The symptoms can be very serious and
may be mistaken for signs of mental illness. They include sleeping more
than usual but never feeling rested, melancholy, listlessness, weight gain
and lack of energy among others.
        The further you live from the equator, the more likely you are to
be affected by SAD. It is believed that up to 20% of the population of
northern countries suffers from SAD and that 5% are chronic cases.
        But even if you don’t have full-blown SAD, you may still experience
a few symptoms, such as increased fatigue and a “down” mood, from the lack
of light.
        So, if you have any of those symptoms it’s better for you to see
your doctor, to keep your home and workplace as bright as possible, light
treatment with special bulbs, given under your doctor’s direction, can
alleviate and even prevent symptoms
        It takes a little sleuthing, but once you’ve fingered the source of
your blues, and applied the appropriate fix, who knows? You may actually
start to enjoy winter for a change!

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