The transition from fall to winter is more than just a change in scenery. It affects our bodies and overall health as well. As temperatures drop and days shorten, it's essential to adapt our habits to stay healthy and vibrant. Here are some strategies to help you make a smooth transition into winter while prioritizing your health.
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1. Strengthen Your Immune System
The cold weather often brings along seasonal ailments likecolds and flu. Building a robust immune system is the first line of defense. Incorporate immunity-boosting foods such as citrus fruits, leafy greens, bell peppers and nuts into your diet. Regular physical activity, adequate sleep and stress management techniques like mindfulness or meditation can also enhance your immune response.
2. Keep Moving
With the arrival of chillier days, it might be tempting to curl up under a blanket rather than lace up your running shoes. However, regular exercise is crucial for maintaining good health. If the weather discourages outdoor activities, consider indoor exercises such as yoga, dance classes or home workout routines. Staying active helps maintain a healthy weight, boosts your mood and strengthens your immune system.
3. Hydrate and Nourish Your Skin
Winter weather can be harsh on your skin, causing it to become dry and chapped. Hydration is key, both inside and out. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you don't feel thirsty. Also, nourish your skin by applying a moisturizer regularly to prevent dryness and maintain your skin’s natural protective barrier.
4. Prioritize Good Sleep
Shorter days and longer nights can disrupt our sleep patterns. Establishing aregular sleep schedule is essential to ensure you get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Good sleep supports immune function,helps regulate mood and improves overall health. Make your bedroom a sleep-friendly environment by reducing light and noise and maintaining a comfortable temperature.
5. Maintain Hygiene Practices
Winter often is synonymous with flu season, making practicing good hygiene all the more important.Regular hand washing, covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing and avoiding close contact with those who are unwell can help prevent the spread of infections.
6. Embrace the Season
Lastly, embracing the winter season can have positive effects on your mental health. Find joy in winter activities, whether skiing, building a snowman or enjoying a hot drink by the fire. Additionally, keeping a positive mindset can help combatseasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons. Speaking with amental health specialist can aid you in finding the right routines and activities to embrace the season.
Stay Healthy This Winter with Healthcare Services in Ohio
Transitioning from fall to winter requires more than just pulling out your winter coats and boots. It's about adapting your lifestyle to meet the demands of the changing season. At Southwest General Health Center, we offer primary and specialty care physicians to help you stay healthy during the winter and all year round. To learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment, visit us athttps://www.swgeneral.com/.
FAQs
Why does the cold weather impact our health? As the weather gets colder, chest infections and increased blood pressure are more common. In some cases, this can put us at a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.
What does winter do to your health? ›
Why does the cold weather impact our health? As the weather gets colder, chest infections and increased blood pressure are more common. In some cases, this can put us at a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.
How do people protect themselves from cold in winter? ›
Drink warm fluids, avoiding caffeinated or alcoholised beverages. Wear clothes in layers. Find shelter from the wind to reduce wind exposure. Listen to the weather forecast and plan ahead!
How can I live a healthy lifestyle in the winter? ›
On this page
- Winter safety.
- Wash, Wipe, Cover.
- Vaccinations.
- Healthy eating.
- Be active.
- Sleep well.
- Get a health check.
- Get a plan.
Cold temperatures that keep people indoors can lead to a lack of exercise and can make people more susceptible to sickness. Being indoors more leads to sedentary habits which can lower resistance to contagious diseases, and germs are more easily spread indoors when people are in close proximity to one another.
What temperature is too cold for a house? ›
What Temperature is Too Cold for a House? While everyone has a different tolerance to cold, ideal winter heat settings should generally be at or above 63 °F (17 °C). Excessive cold (anything below 62 °F or 16 °C) in your home can actually raise your blood pressure as your blood “thickens” in the chilly temperatures.
Is living in a cold house bad for your health? ›
Cold air inflames lungs and inhibits circulation, increasing the risk of respiratory conditions, such as asthma attacks or symptoms, worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and infection.
How do you build immunity in the winter? ›
Supporting your immune system
- Eat a diverse range of foods. Consume a variety of different fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, legumes, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices.
- Add fibre-rich foods into your meals. ...
- Add in some probiotic sources. ...
- Include prebiotic-rich foods. ...
- Go easy on the alcohol.
Wear warm clothes
wearing plenty of thin layers rather than one thick one. putting on a coat, hat, scarf, gloves and warm shoes or boots when you go outside. wearing clothes made of wool or fleecy synthetic fibres (cotton is only effective if the garment stays dry) wearing bed socks and thermal underwear at night.
How can seniors stay healthy in the winter? ›
Keep warm blankets and extra cold-weather clothing in your car. Wear a hat, scarf, and gloves or mittens to prevent loss of body heat through your head and hands. Also consider using disposable or rechargeable hand- and foot-warming products. Wear warm and loose layers of clothing.
- 5 Things You Should Never Do In Winter.
- 4 min read. By Apollo 24|7, Published on - 31 January 2023, Updated on - 28 January 2024. Avoid Sunscreen2. Taking Hot Showers3. Avoiding Showers 4. Wearing Socks While Sleeping5. Leaving Your Ears UncoveredFinal Note. Share this article. 6 likes.
6 tips to beat the winter blues
- 1. ' Brighten' up your day. ...
- Get moving. Exercise is critically important in supporting mood, especially in the fall and winter, when we tend to be more sedentary. ...
- Nestle in nature. There's no such thing as bad weather. ...
- Adapt early. ...
- Find the fun. ...
- Remember you're not alone.
While exercising outside in the winter can be perfectly safe, it does require some extra precautions. The physiological and metabolic impact of exercising in cold weather can be intense. The body needs to work harder to perform in a harsher climate and be able to generate adequate heat to keep warm.
What are the dangers of winter? ›
Heavy snowfall and blizzards easily trap motorists in their vehicles and make walking to find help a deadly effort. Severely cold temperatures and wind chills during and after a winter storm can lead to hypothermia and kill anyone caught outside for too long.
What are the negative effects of winter season? ›
Cold Weather Health Risks
Cold weather can put increased stress on our cardiovascular system. Cold temperatures cause your blood vessels to constrict, shallow breathing, and a slight thickening of the blood. These changes can cause chest pain in people with heart disease.
What happens to the body in winter? ›
When we start to get cold, our blood becomes thicker, which can cause clotting. Clotting can cause problems and is one of the reasons we see more heart attacks and strokes in the days following colder weather. Being cold also affects our body's ability to fight off infection.
Why is winter so hard on your body? ›
A drop in temperature can cause the blood vessels to constrict and become narrower. Which means when it's cold outside, the heart must work harder to pump blood throughout the body. This can also contribute to increased blood pressure, increased heart rate and thickening of the blood.
Why do humans get sick in the winter? ›
Colds, flus and other respiratory illnesses are more common in colder months. People are indoors more often, allowing viruses to pass more easily from one person to another. And the cold, dry air may weaken resistance.
Does winter affect your mental health? ›
If you have noticed significant changes in your mood and behavior when the seasons change, you may be experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD). In most cases, SAD symptoms start in the late fall or early winter and go away during the spring and summer, known as winter-pattern SAD or winter depression.
