In Germany, the DWD or national weather service not only alerts people to incoming inclement weather, but also issues public health warnings for weather sensitive ailments. While Americans have to settle for ozone and pollen reports, Germans are informed of changes in weather that may exacerbate conditions like migraines and arthritis.

Human biometeorology studies the relationship between weather and health. The North American medical community may be hesitant to back research into the climate/wellness connection, but it is a thriving science in countries like Germany and the Netherlands.

The German weather service or Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) has an extensive biometeorology department that studies the ways in which weather and climate affect health. The DWD has published several studies on human health and weather for the European arm of the World Health Organization. Of specific interest is the affect of climate change on health and wellness as well as the link between extreme weather and health conditions — heat waves are a particularly popular topic.

With or without major funding, some North American scientists are dedicated to biometeorology. In Canada, John Bart and Denis Bourque, a doctor and meteorologist respectively, formed the The Canadian Medical Meteorology Network. The Network is based around the MediClim index, which divides weather into 14 categories that affect numerous health conditions.

[via Beliefnet.com]

(Photo: wunderground.com)