THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHINOOK CONDITIONS AND WOMENS ILLNESS-RELATED BEHAVIORS

The objective of this study was to (1) to describe the relationship be tween chinook conditions and illness related behaviour in women, aged 20-49 years, and (2) to examine the possibility of the existence of su bgroups of chinook-sensitive women. At present no empirical evidence i s available regarding a relationship between chinook conditions and il lness related behaviours. This study comprises the secondary analysis of a large survery of various health and health-related factors of urb an women aged 20-49 years, carried out in 1985-1986 in Calgary. The in terview date was used to link behaviours to chinook conditions. We fou nd no evidence of a significant relationship between the behaviours in vestigated and chinook conditions in the general population. However, the data strongly supported the concept of chinook sensitivity. Women with a history of chronic health problems were more likely to visit a health care professional on chinook days than healthy women and women in the subgroup aged less than 35 years cut down their usual daily act ivities during chinook conditions. Women with a history of recurring m igraine headaches were less likely to take prescription medication on chinook days, and women with a history of emotional disorders were mor e likely to have higher scores on the accident scale and to report bur sts of energy or excitement during chinook days. More research is need ed to identify subgroups of susceptible persons, as well as to determi ne whether chinook sensitive persons are equally susceptible to weathe r changer of other types.