A shock because you grab the door handle or because you touch someone. You’re not the only one. How is it possible that you get shocks in the winter? And why does one suffer more than the other?
In winter – especially when it is cold and dry – there is literally electricity in the air. However, under normal circumstances, the air plays an important role as an insulator of electrical charges. In that case, static electricity will flow away without you noticing it, thanks to the moisture in the air.
But when the humidity is too low, the static electricity has nowhere to go. At least until you make contact with a conductive object, followed by an electrical discharge. And you can feel that.
How does that electric charge arise in our body in the first place? Normally, the human body is electrically neutral, but friction (for example, shuffling back and forth on your office chair) creates residual charges. That means our body collects free electrons from the surfaces around us. Those residual charges easily build up to a charge of about a thousand volts. The result: an annoying, harmless shock upon discharge.
Inside static
Especially indoors, there is a good chance that electrical charges will arise. After all, by heating the cold and dry air, it becomes even drier. One way to make heated rooms a little more humid is to simply place a container of water on the heater. As a result, the water will gradually evaporate and the humidity level in the house will remain stable.
Why is one more sensitive?
Some people are a bit more sensitive than others. This has to do with the clothes that people wear, especially the shoes. If you have shoes with leather soles, that is very different from when you wear sneakers, for example. But polyester clothing is also a cause of electric shock. In addition, some people are more sensitive. This has to do with the thickness of the skin. Women are also more sensitive than men, but women’s skin is thinner. A small spark that the man does not feel can therefore be felt by a woman. This also applies to children, by the way. They are also more sensitive.
What can you do?
- Look at the humidity in your home or at work and increase it by taking many plants into your home. Water those plants well. Then the humidity rises
- Hang water bowls on your heater
- Lower the heating a bit
- Do you really suffer from shocks when you grab the door handle, for example? Then put a key or something else made of metal in your pocket. If you want to open a door, touch the door handle with the key. That will prevent you from a shock.
- Preferably wear cotton or linen clothing