If you are one of thousands of Canadians who suffers from migraines, arthritis or other conditions that seem to worsen with weather changes, a new website can help you.
A Toronto doctor has just helped launch MediClim.com, a website where Canadians can sign up to receive emails 24 hours before a change in the weather is expected to exacerbate their symptoms.
Dr. John Bart founded the site with one of his patients, meteorologist Denis Bourque. They decided to launch the site to help those with such conditions to be alerted of weather changes ahead of time. "To be forewarned is to be forearmed," they say.
The pair notes that many conditions are worsened by severe weather. Those who suffer from migraines have found that a sudden change in weather, such as an incoming heat wave of cold snap, can bring on the debilitating headaches.
Many Canadians who suffer from asthma or rheumatic arthritis also tend to find their condition worsens after a cold front has gone by.
The email service can also benefit those with heart conditions or diabetes so that they can be alerted about when extreme heat or cold could put them in danger. By being warned, such patients can then take steps to avoid putting their health at risk, such as ensuring they stay indoors during an extreme heat alert.
The email service does not provide any medical advice. Instead, it recommends that users consult with their health care providers to determine the best course of action to prepare for the weather change.
MediClim is a free service currently available to everyone in Canada, the United States (except Alaska and Hawaii) and the United Kingdom. Bart and Bourque are planning to include more countries in the service, with other European countries likely appearing in 2009.
