I woke up one day last week with excruciating pain in my neck and shoulder. Oh brother, I remember this one, it last happened when I was in school and I had just let it work itself out over the course of a couple days. It was actually not bad once I was on my feet, it was just the getting up and laying down parts that blinked my eyes wide open. Okay, not a problem, I just needed some ibuprofen for what was most likely a muscle strain. Or some naproxen. Or both. I mentioned it to an Italian friend who, of course, immediately told me that it was a common problem with the current damp weather. I should not leave the house if at all possible, but if I were forced to, I should cover myself well and wrap my neck with a heavy wool scarf. Otherwise, I risked getting the flu. Italians seem to be obsessed with the weather here and its effects on their health. If I mention symptoms of a cold or fatigue, most will nod their heads knowingly and say, yes, the temperature has been changing dramatically and most definitely that is the cause.

Of course, my own reactions of immediately reaching for the correct medicine bottle to cure my ails within 30 minutes make the Italians laugh.  I have my own home pharmacy selection of OTC drugs that I import in my suitcase each trip back to the US – Costco-sized bottles of cough syrup, painkillers, antihistamines, decongestants, you name it. We Americans do not suffer from minor illnesses and discomforts, we beat them back with the latest pharmaceuticals and get on with our day.  I actually dig into my stash quite a bit less frequently now, as having had frequent comments on my “typical” American habit has made me more aware. Cover up the symptoms or search for the cause? Clearly neither system is perfect.