Emailed forecasts predict health problems
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 | 11:18 AM ET
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A new email alert system may help take some of the headache out of weather-related health problems.
MediClim.com sends out a free email alert 24 hours before weather is likely to affect the health of subscribers, potentially saving them a trip to the doctor.
People who wish to use the service may log on to the website, state where they live and include their health problems, such as migraines, asthma, heart disease, diabetes or arthritis.
"Very cold weather makes heart patients suffer, very hot weather provides the same opportunity to get sick," Dr. John Bart, a physician in Toronto who helped create the service, said Tuesday.
"It's a no brainer when we say that extremes in weather affect people's health. What's not been fully understood, especially by English-speaking physicians, is that subtle changes in the weather make a difference to people's health."
Patients should go to their doctor beforehand to find out what they should do before receiving a warning, such as staying indoors during an extreme heat alert.
MediClim considers the effects of temperature, pressure changes, wind and humidity.
For example, a high-pressure system could bring on migraines and aggravate heart disease.
The email service does not provide any medical advice.
Bart started the service together with meteorologist Denis Bourque, who found German research linking changes in the weather to many health conditions.
MediClim is available in Canada, the United States (except Alaska and Hawaii) and the United Kingdom.
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