Autumn’s Hidden Health Risks: Protecting Your Spine and Brain as Temperatures Drop

[medi K / HEALTH IN NEWS] As autumn arrives, the sharp temperature fluctuations between morning and evening, combined with cooler air, can subtly impact the body's blood circulation and muscle health. For middle-aged and older adults, these seasonal shifts often heighten existing vulnerabilities, potentially triggering conditions such as lumbar disc herniation, spinal stenosis, sciatica, and even cerebrovascular disorders.

When temperatures drop and daily temperature variations widen, muscles tend to contract and blood flow decreases. This environment can easily compress nerves surrounding the spine, leading to pain that may initially be dismissed as simple muscle soreness. However, persistent stiffness or sharp pain in the lower back or legs could signal the early stages of spinal stenosis—a condition in which the spinal canal narrows, placing pressure on nerve structures.

Spinal stenosis is characterized by a constricted passageway for nerves, often causing leg numbness or a pulling sensation while walking, with symptoms relieving upon sitting or resting. In contrast, lumbar disc herniation occurs when an intervertebral disc protrudes and directly compresses nerve roots, resulting in numbness, sensory changes, and muscle weakness. While early symptoms of both conditions may temporarily improve with heat application or pain medication, untreated underlying pathology can progress, eventually necessitating more aggressive interventions.

Another critical concern during autumn is the increased risk of unstable blood pressure and disrupted cerebral blood flow, which can manifest as dizziness, headaches, or transient memory lapses. These symptoms are frequently dismissed as fatigue but may represent early warning signs of cerebrovascular disease. Individuals with chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or hyperlipidemia are particularly vulnerable and should prioritize regular medical checkups and proactive disease management.



Autumn's cooler climate increases muscle tension and reduces blood circulation, elevating the likelihood of spinal and cerebrovascular complications. Even similar symptoms can arise from vastly different underlying causes, making accurate diagnosis essential. Advanced imaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can assess nerve compression or vascular abnormalities, enabling early treatment that significantly improves clinical outcomes.

For mild symptoms, nonsurgical treatments including pharmacotherapy, epidural injections, selective nerve blocks, and physical therapy can often yield substantial improvement. Neuroplasty—a minimally invasive procedure that relieves nerve adhesions and alleviates pain—is particularly effective, offering rapid recovery and swift return to daily activities. However, dismissing persistent pain as mere muscle soreness or relying exclusively on analgesics can allow progressive nerve damage to develop, potentially requiring surgical intervention.

Autumn is a season when physical resilience often diminishes and pain becomes more prevalent. Recurrent lower back or leg numbness, shoulder and neck stiffness, or unexplained headaches and dizziness should not be attributed solely to fatigue. Seeking precise medical evaluation early can lead to simpler treatment approaches and faster recovery outcomes.

Lim Hye Jung / press@themedik.kr

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