Seasonal Affective Disorder affects around a million people in the UK, most of them women. Fewer daylight hours in autumn and winter means we produce less of the feel-good chemical, serotonin. The connection between weather and our emotions is anatomical, too. The emotional part of the brain is near the area that controls temperature so, for example, when it gets hot outside, you're more likely to become irritable. The elderly aren't the only ones who can die from cold.
Cold weather clots the blood, which can trigger a stroke or heart attack at any age.
And in case you think our climate is too mild for Brits to be affected, it s worth noting that in the UK where we don't dress for the cold you're more at risk than most weather-savvy Scandinavians, who sensibly wrap up warm. Changes in atmospheric pressure can cause inflammation and pain in the joints, while stormy weather can trigger everything from an asthma attack to clinical depression. Discuss meteorology, moods and health online. We have made every effort to ensure that the information supplied on these pages is correct. However, if you are in doubt about any information you read on this site, you should seek further advice.