Coronavirus, asthma, eczema, chapped skin, and painful, arthritic joints.
Winter truly is the season to make you far from jolly.
But have you ever wondered why it yields so many health problems for so many of us, and what can we do to prevent them?
Keep it cosy
Exposure to extreme cold quite obviously causes conditions such as hypothermia. Diminishing temperatures chill us to the bones; meaning arthritis gets more painful. Blood circulation, particularly to the feet and hands, is affected and blood pressure increases. This can put us at greater risk of heart attack or stroke. That is why we should keep our temperature at home to 18 – 21 degrees Celsius and wrap up warm when we venture outside.
Cold outside can exacerbate conditions such as eczema and cause flare-ups. Freezing air – particularly when moving from the warm to the cold – might provoke an asthma attack. Precautions have to be taken if you have either condition; and asthmatics need to have inhalers at hand. Cover your mouth with a scarf in cold weather is always good practice.
The slippery road
Plummeting temperatures also cause hospital Emergency Units nightmares, with falls particularly prevalent. Sturdy solid footwear and a warning to watch your step, apply here. The inclement will probably put you off going out at all, and that’s where the problems really start.
We may not like the cold, but viruses do, and being in enclosed spaces closer together sees them thrive. Tiredness and other factors can lower our immune systems. I am not advocating going out in ten inches of snow, but exposure to the outside world raises vitamin D levels and exercise is always good, whether you are basking in the sun or walking in the cold.
Those who become hermetic also tend to eat and drink – habits not helped by Christmas! Moderation is the name of the game with both, particularly as you are bound to be more sedentary.
Brighter days ahead
From irritated pink eyes to runny rhinitis, winter can seem like the season of illness, but there are also positives along the way. These include a prevalence of root vegetables, brisk walks in the cold air, healthy home-made meals in front of the fire and to ease our mental health issues, the camaraderie of Christmas and other religious festivals.
Ill health is more prevalent in winter, but it doesn’t have to be inevitable. Stay warm, get outside for some vitamin D, remember to attend your inoculations (especially that flu jab), cover your mouth when you cough and look out for your neighbours, especially the elderly.
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About the writer
Dr Anita Sharma is a published women’s health expert, the founder of the charity Endometriosis Awareness North and the president of the Rochdale Inner Wheel club.
As a GP, she previously coordinated the NHS pessary service for Greater Manchester. She also works closely with Rochdale medics to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing.
