The colder weather is on its way and the drop in temperature outside can bring with it several winter related health issues, particularly in older adults. Although winter also brings with it fun and the possibility of snow fall, it’s important to know how to keep safe and illness free.
1. Breathing
If you have asthma, you may notice that during the cold weather your asthma flares up or is worse than usual. Cold weather causes your airways to narrow, making it more difficult to breathe, especially for asthma sufferers.
Plus, the cold air leads many of us to take breaths more often and breathe through our mouths. The cold air can dry out the lungs, resulting in inflamed airways. Therefore, it can help to wear a scarf around your face in colder weather to warm the air before it reaches your lungs. If you’re an asthma sufferer, be sure to carry your inhaler with you wherever you go.
2. Joints
It’s true your joints don’t like the cold weather either. When barometric pressure rises during the winter it can make arthritis and other joint problems worse. To avoid extra pain, it helps to do some stretching exercises and stay as active as you can.
It’s really important to stay hydrated, too as this can also help to maintain your joint health. Water contributes to joint lubrication, helping to prevent stiffness and promote movement.
3. Heart
According to some sources, the risks of heart attacks increases during winter. One reason could be that the arteries constrict when it’s cold which reduces blood flow, causing your heart to work harder than usual.
When it’s cold, your heart works harder to pump blood around the body to help keep it warm and keep blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs. You can help by keeping yourself warm by staying inside as much as you can when it’s cold, staying active and wrap up in layers of warm clothing. You can also drink hot drinks and soups to help keep you warm, too. If you are venturing out, don’t forget your Hydratem8 insulated bottle filled with a warm beverage.
4. Skin
When the weather is cold, the air becomes drier which draws the moisture out of your skin. Staying hydrated during the winter months can help to keep your skin healthy and glowing. Showering in lukewarm water rather than hot can help to keep the skin soft and healthy and moisturising with an oil-based moisturiser also helps.
5. Snacking
Winter is the perfect time to binge-watch the latest Netflix series and, in doing so, load up on sweet or fatty comfort foods. This coinciding with a reduced activity rate can lead to weight gain. So, it’s important to stick to your exercise routine, even if you must adapt and move your exercise indoors. If the weather is affecting your moods, being active can boost the endorphins your body releases, boosting your mood and making you feel better about yourself.
The winter months can be tough both mentally and physically. The cold weather and the darker mornings and evenings can take their toll on your body, but you can limit the impact by staying active, hydrated, and warm.
