Winter is over, and soon temperature will begin to rise, suffocating us like a slow, then intense, fire in this humid pot we live in, called Earth. It lasts so little, and sometimes we think the cold is getting less and less in contrast to the heat that breaks records every year.

However, this text is not about global warming and climate change, but about how some people "feel," before it’s obvious to everyone, the constant variations in weather.

Yes, sometimes I think of myself as a meteorological fortune teller twice over. A lifelong allergy sufferer who's debuting with a bad knee, I can't tell what's coming, but if, while on medication and with my allergies under control, I start sneezing and sniffling, or my eyes sore, my face itches, and I feel irritable and congested, I already know temperature is going to drop or it's going to rain. And now, to confirm it, my right knee is also screaming at me, stiffening, telling me "I'm right here."

This has been the case for so many years. I've heard the same thing from many people about the divining power of their joints. Experts indicate that there's a real connection, that it's not just a crazy idea from crazy bodies and minds that detect changes in atmospheric pressure when it drops just before rain or a drop in the thermometer.

I don't know about everyone, but some allergy sufferers are sensitive to humidity in all its forms, and I suppose the air becomes even more loaded with invisible droplets when it's about to rain, and that's why we feel bad.

The same thing happens with patients with osteoarthritis, torn muscles, or broken bones. Once they've healed, they'll never be the same again. They can anticipate it because they "feel" their joints or broken parts—perhaps not with pain, or maybe even with pain, but in most cases it's just a sudden, uncomfortable sensation. And this is common with various conditions.

In the case of rheumatic diseases and other conditions, it's a good idea to maintain the temperature of their joints and affected areas, covering them to retain heat thus promoting blood circulation in the event of a sudden change, which, as we know, doesn't give any warning. It's also good to exercise as much as possible to keep joints and muscles healthy and prevent them from reacting rashly to the current instability.

It's difficult to avoid seasonal respiratory issues in sensitive people because we don't know when the atmosphere will be filled with allergens like pollen, for example, when it's violently dispersed by the winds. We can only be disciplined with allergy treatment, not failing with medication, and that way perhaps our immune systems won't overreact.

Translated by Amilkal Labañino / CubaSí Translation Staff