PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF WEATHER

Effects Of Weather On Human Health In Thailand

Kawinthida Hirunworawuttikul
Mahidol University International Demonstration School

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Abstract

This study examined how weather affects human health in Thailand. Gender differences
were compared and the effects were also examined. Two methods were used to collect data for this
research. Observation was conducted on customers (N=37) at a noodle shop in Siam Square which
gender showed apparently and the the behavior of the customers can be recorded, and quantity were
recorded. Additionally, two sellers were interviewed, one in a noodle shop with no air conditioner,
and one in a bakery shop with air conditioner, about how the customers act due to the weather in
their shop, and how are the customers tend to be affected by the weather. People were found to eat
faster in hot weather. Women were found to be more affected by the weather than men. The
behavior collected is based on the researcher's judgement, so it makes the data a little biased. The
results suggest that people get stressed in hot weather and they like to be in cold weather more than
hot weather.
Introduction
Weather has many impacts on human's health especially in Thailand which has a very hot
climate for most of the time. Climate change can affect health risk. It can affect some factors that
can affect on health such as water and food. Weather can affect public health in many ways, so
people should know how to prepare and avoid from the risks. This paper will describe how the
types of weather affect human's health, and which season occur in which month in Thailand.
Literature Review
Physical Effects
Weather can cause many physical effects on human. Melone (2013) mentions that the
chance to get headache is increased by lightning (para. 2). He also insists that respiratory problems
can occur more because of the smog (para. 4). Fog can ease your respiratory system (para. 7).
Moreover, cold weather can cause arthritis aggravation on human (para. 12). According to Earth
Networks (2014), a 2009 study of 7,000 people said that in every increasing of 9 F, migraine risk

PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF WEATHER

increases (para. 2). It claims that 200 extra heart attacks can be caused by any 2 decrease (para. 4).
The Earth Networks points out that when the weather is hot, we breathe harder, and this can
increase symptoms (para. 6). Itching can get worse due to the temperatures rise (para. 8). It proves
that 70% of people with joint problems report that when the weather is cold, the ache gets worse
(para. 10).
Emotional Effects
When the temperatures change, it can affect on human's emotional. Colihan (2008) observes
that bad mood are caused by many factors; temperatures, wind, and sunlight (para. 11). It has been
collected that people said how tired they are depends on the sunlight (para. 11). He supports that
when it rained, sunlight helped ease how people reported whether they were tired (para. 13).
According to his research, in spring and summer, wind causes negative mood than in fall and winter
(para. 12). When the days become shorter, some people's moods mirrored that, while others actually
felt more positive feelings (para.15). Melone (2013) points out that storms can cause depression
link on human (para. 9)
Weather In Thailand
It is commonly known that the weather in Thailand is not very various. From Amazing
Thailand (n.d.), the weather in Thailand depends on the tropical monsoons (para.1). Cool season in
Thailand is between November February (para. 4). Hot season in Thailand is between March
June (para. 5). Rainy season in Thailand is between July October (para. 6). Weather in Thailand is
commonly known that it is hot and humid (para. 1). According to web2.airmail.net (n.d.), Bangkok,
Thailand is the hottest city and the 8 th of the driest city in Asia (para. 1). In almost every day of the
year, the temperature reaches 90 F or higher (para.2). It also supports that when the temperature is
combined with humidity, temperatures reach 120 F.

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Methods

Observation
An observation was conducted on all customers at a noodle shop which has no air
conditioner in Siam Square on Sunday afternoon in March 2014. Any customers of Dee-Den noodle
shop at that time will be observed. The observation is about behavior of the customers in the noodle
shop. The taken note is mostly qualitative. This methods were observed base on customers who are
affected and not affected by the weather. This was determined by how their visibly sweating.
Interview
An interview (see Appendix A) was conducted on the people who has special knowledge in
the restaurants, one with air conditioner and one with no air conditioner. The interview was
conducted via Voice Memos application in iPhone on Sunday afternoon in March 2014. Participants
were asked about information of the customers and the restaurants.
Participants
Observation
An observation was conducted on a total of thirty-seven individuals on all ages at a noodle
shop, Dee-Den, Siam Square. Individuals were selected randomly and reflect all ages of the
population.
Interview
Two assistants who were interviewed for this study are a noodle seller and a staff in a bakery
shop. First, the noodle seller at Dee-Den shop and also the shop owner. She has worked there since
the shop has been opened and she has met many customers. Second, the staff in a bakery shop, or
S&P. He has worked there for 4 years, so he has a great experience.
Results
Observation
The results of the observation showed that most people sweat while eating in hot weather

PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF WEATHER

(47.4%, N=22). 31.6% of the observed people seemed angry while eating/waiting for a seat (N=15).
8.8% of people seemed to eat faster when they are in hot weather (N=4). Not all of people were
affected by hot weather. 12.3% (N=5) of the observed people seemed like they were not affected by
the weather.
When comparing the results of men and women, women are more affected by hot weather
(N=27) than men (N=10).

Figure 1 - Behavior of customers in a noodle shop with no air conditioner

Interview
According to the interview, a bakery seller in S&P shop showed that most customers choose
to sit longer in a shop with air conditioner than a shop without air conditioner. He reported that most
of the customers are teenagers. In the morning and lunch time of Saturdays and Sundays have most
customers. He also reported that customers sit in the shop after they finished eating. He suggested
that it is hot outside so the customers choose to sit in his shop. A noodle seller at Dee-Den noodle
shop reported that the customers in her shop walk out right after they finished eating. Time that has

PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF WEATHER

most customers are in lunch time of everyday and the customers are at all ages. She also reported
that the reason that customers choose to eat at her shop is because of the taste of noodle even the
shop has no air conditioner though.
Implications
Observation
The results of the observation suggest a number of how most people in a noodle shop with
no air conditioner respond to the weather. They imply that most of people are angry in hot weather
and people want to be in a place with air conditioner rather than a place with no air conditioner, but
the results are difficult to generalize because of the lurking variables and biased data. The collected
data was observed at only one place and only few number of people. Compared with the 2008 study
on how the weather affects our moods (Colihan), the results from this study suggest that
temperatures, wind and sunlight were found to have an effect on negative mood. One possible
explanation for this is hot weather can make you feel tired and exhausted, and that may cause
people get stressed and angry easily. If this study were to be repeated, more people should be
observed and the observation should have as few bias as possible.
Interview
The results of the interview point on a number of how the customers in both shops, with and
without air conditioner, respond to the weather in Thailand. The results were as expected. People
want to sit in the shop with air conditioner longer than sitting in the shop without air conditioner.
The results of the interview are difficult to generalize because only two shops were interviewed.
Compared with 2014 study on does changing weather affect your health (Earth Networks), the
results show that people can breathe harder when it is hot. One possible explanation for this is
people feel more comfortable in colder weather. If this study were to be repeated, more question
should be asked to the interviewees for more information and make it has less lurking variables.

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Limitations

Observation
There were a number of limitations in the observation conducted for this study. First
limitation is that the observed people are only people who are the customers at the shop used to
observe. There were some lurking variables. Some people in the shop were hard to consider
whether they are affected by the weather or not based on their visibly behavior. Moreover, there was
also some biased data because the observation based on the researcher's judgement whether a
person is being affected by the weather or not.
Interview
There were some limitations found in the interview. First of all, the interviewees were
working while interviewing. The noodle seller was in a hurry and looks like she didn't pay much
attention to the questions asked. Additionally, the Voice Memos application used to record the
conversation can record a lot of background noise and the noodle shop has a lot of noisy sound. The
bakery seller in S&P seemed confused while interviewing.
Conclusion
This purpose of the current study was to determine how the weather affects people health in
Thailand. Although the results were inconclusive, the data suggests that the weather can affect
people's emotions. It suggests that some people get angry in the hot weather. The data also suggests
that people like to be in the place that has air conditioner rather than a place without air conditioner.
One possible effect that weather has on people is it can cause stress.

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References

Colihan, K. (2008, October 16). How the weather affects our moods. Retrieved from
http://www.webmd.com/balance/news/20081016/how-the-weather-affects-our-moods
Melone, L. (2013, October 20). It's true! The weather really does affect your health. Retrieved from
http://www.nextavenue.org/article/2013-09/its-true-weather-really-does-affect-your-health
Tourism Authority of Thailand. (Accessed on 2014, March 28). The weather in Thailand and
Thailand climate. Retrieved from http://www.tourismthailand.org/Thailand/weather
Weatherbug. (2014, January 20). Does changing weather affect your health? Retrieved from
http://knowbefore.weatherbug.com/2014/01/20/changing-weather-affect-health/
Appendices
Appendix A (Interview questions)
1. How long have you worked in this restaurant?
2. What time do most customers walk in?
3. What do they do when they are eating (their behavior)?
4. Why do you think the customers choose your shop instead of a shop with/without air
conditioner?