Joyce writes to ask: "Could you explain the pressure to me? I have vestibular neurocity (a form of vertigo). When the pressure drops there is a real increase in my symptoms of light headedness and nausea. Storms send me to bed for days. For fun info, can you tell me the best and worst states to live in? I thank you so much!"

Thanks for the query, Joyce. You can think of atmospheric, or "barometric" pressure as the weight of all the air above your head pressing down on the Earth's surface - including people like you and me walking around on it. It's much like the pressure of water on the bodies of scuba divers as they descend to the bottom of a pool or a lake. The weight of the air pressing down on us at sea level amounts to about 14.7 pounds per square inch, or roughly a ton per square foot.

Fortunately, the pressure in our bodies pushing out is about the same as that pushing in, so we aren't crushed. But we can feel the change of pressure in our ears when we ride up or down on the elevators in tall buildings, or when we drive up or down mountain roads. The higher we get, the lower the atmospheric pressure.

When we're going down, there is more air pressing on our eardrums, and we feel a need to "clear" or "pop" our ears by swallowing or yawning. What we're actually doing is stretching our throats, allowing air at the increased pressure to enter our eustachian tubes, which lead from high in the back of our throats into our inner ears. That equalizes the pressure on the inside and the outside of our eardrums.

The same thing happens in reverse when we go up the elevator. The atmospheric pressure on the outside drops, and the pressure of air in our inner ears becomes higher than that of air on the outside, and it presses against our eardrums. When we yawn or swallow, the air escapes and the pressure is relieved.

Weather systems are much slower than elevators, but they have a similar effect. Where atmospheric pressure is low, the weather becomes stormy. Clear, sunny weather comes with high pressure systems. Scientists have long noted the link between changes in atmospheric pressure and physical symptoms, such as arthritis and Meniere's disease. So you're probably not imagining it, especially since our inner ear is where our balance control mechanisms are located. When something affects those balance centers, we can experience vertigo, nausea and similar symptoms. 

If you think your symptoms get worse is stormy weather, it might make sense to live somewhere where the weather is clear and dry, and atmospheric pressure typically is high, perhaps in the Southwest. High-altitude states like Colorado would appear to be out, however, as would stormy places like Seattle. Far-northern places like Canada or Alaska might work. Cold air is dense air, which is also heavier. Some of the highest atmospheric pressures ever recorded have been in far northern regions. Ideally, though, I guess what you're looking for is a relatively comfortable coastal desert. Maybe Lima, Peru or Casablanca, in Morocco.