Winter is almost here and with the various joys and good times, it also brings with it certain health problems that we must be aware of. Read on to learn about common winter health issues and what we can do about them.
Bone, joint and body pain – It is known that the drop in temperature causes an increase in joint and bone pain. This season is especially troublesome for people with arthritis.
Helpful tips to prevent / treat joint pain
- Keep your joints warm.
- Make sure to do light warm-up exercises.
- Massaging aching joints with warm oil can help.
- Adding supplements like vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids after consulting your doctor can help.
- Keep your pain relievers handy.
Challenges of the respiratory system – Cold weather is known to cause an increase in cases of respiratory system problems such as asthma, flu, common colds, sinusitis, bronchitis, sore throat, and pneumonia.
Useful tips to prevent / cope with them-
- Stay safe from very cold air / wind when exiting by covering your mouth and nose lightly.
- If you are asthmatic, meet with your doctor and catch up on any medications you may need and store them so they are on hand when you need them.
- Influenza, flu, sore throat, and pneumonia are contagious diseases and can be prevented by following simple measures such as washing your hands regularly and covering your mouth when sneezing or coughing.
- Getting enough rest, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and staying hydrated can help.
- For a sore throat, gargling with warm salt water may help.
- If you have problems with your respiratory system on a regular basis, you should consider hiring a steam engine or a nebulizer.
Winter skin problems – Dry itchy skin, chapped lips, flaky skin, chapped feet, and pre-existing skin disorders like eczema and psoriasis can appear in winters due to dry air.
Helpful tips to prevent / treat skin problems during winter.
- Keep hydrated and hydrate your skin with natural moisturizers.
- For flaky skin, exfoliate then hydrate.
- For chapped lips, lip balms or creams that contain vitamin A and vitamin E can help and work better when applied to damp lips.
- For itchy skin, it is best to avoid long periods of warm showers.
- It is best if the wool clothing is not in direct contact with the skin.
- If you have a pre-existing skin condition, stay away from harsh soaps or chemicals and keep your medicated creams ready.
Heart problem in the elderly – If you have an elderly person at home, now is the time to have them evaluated, especially if they already have pre-existing heart or blood vessel problems, as due to the drop in body temperature (hypothermia) in the colder months, the heart becomes It is affected by an increased heart rate and blood pressure, where the heart needs to work more to keep the body warm.
Helpful Tips to Prevent / Treat Heart Problems / Hypothermia in the Elderly-
- Install thermostats in homes to keep the temperature at a constant and safe temperature.
- Hot water bottles or electric blankets can be used.
- Encourage them to get some light exercise.
- Special measures should be taken in cold seasons for their health assessment and they should be encouraged to take their medications on time.
By,
Dr. Frozen Fatima
References
https://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/india/5-most-common-winter-illness-you-must-be-aware-of
https://www.skymetweather.com/content/health-and-food/5-ways-to-enjoy-disease-free-winter/
https://www.onlymyhealth.com/winter-health-problems-1292484682
https://www.indushealthplus.com/common-winter-health-problems.html
https://www.hdfcergo.com/blogs/health-insurance/precautions-to-be-taken-in-winter.html
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