It’s official—winter is here with a crisp bite to the air! This is the season to celebrate and invite friends for healthy meals, get-togethers, and even trips abroad. Although we relish dressing up in our finest winter attire, we also have to acknowledge that there is a negative aspect to this season. Diseases and other health issues are the ugly face of wintertime!
Sudden low temperatures can cause health problems like arthritis and heart problems, among other things. On the other hand, the winter is when respiratory infections and skin conditions should be closely monitored.
How To Avoid Typical Winter Illnesses
1. Common Cold
We frequently dismiss the common cold as a normal part of the changing seasons, but it happens far too frequently. A common cold can cause a runny nose, sneezing fit, headache, chest congestion, and sore throat, among other symptoms. The common cold, which affects both adults and children, is expected to pass after a few days and doesn’t require any serious medical attention.
How to Prevent: To overcome this health issue, it is best to rest, eat meals prepared at home, and drink plenty of water. For other natural remedies to common cold, click here
2. Flu
Even though the flu is not as serious as the common cold, it is still something to be taken seriously. The influenza virus is the cause of the contagious respiratory disease known as the flu. It can also be mild or severe. Like a cold, a flu patient can ruin the season with symptoms like fever, headaches, sore throats, and body aches.
How to Prevent:
- Wash your hands often to protect yourself from bacteria and viruses that cause the flu.
- If you happen to cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with your hands.
- Keep your distance if someone is sick with a cold.
- To boost your immunity, engage in regular exercise.
- Other Home Remedies for Flu
3. Strep Throat
It is very uncomfortable and annoying to have a sore throat. However, strep throat is more severe! A strep throat is an infection-induced fever that is a more severe form of a sore throat. It is highly prevalent in children and is brought on by a bacterial infection. In addition to headache, swollen lymph nodes, fever, and difficulty or pain when swallowing food or liquids, strep throat can cause other symptoms.
How to Prevent:
- Seek immediate medical attention
- Get plenty of rest.
- Sip some warm water.
4. Bronchitis
Infants and young children under two years old are frequently susceptible to Bronchitis. The respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is the source of the respiratory infection known as bronchitis. Breathing problems brought on by the lungs’ clogged airways and inflammation are common symptoms. Patients with bronchitis cough, wheeze, and have a mild fever and nasal congestion.
How to Avoid:
- Get adequate sleep
- Increased sleep and hydration
5. Pneumonia
Another lung infection that is common in the winter is pneumonia. Bacterial diseases can range in severity from mild to severe, with mild cases treatable at home and more likely to require hospitalization.
Pneumonia is more common in those with weakened immune systems and conditions like cancer, heart problems, or asthma. Regretfully, it is challenging to identify this illness in its early stages. Nonetheless, it is advisable to consult a physician if the patient has a persistent cold or a high fever.
How to Avoid It:
- Always wash your hands after using the restroom.
- Every day, work out.
- Consume fruits and vegetables that are in season.
- Give up smoking immediately if you do.
6. Whooping Cough
Whooping cough, sometimes referred to as pertussis, is a dangerous and highly contagious bacterial infection that primarily affects babies and young children. It begins as a regular cold and develops into coughing fits that culminate in a whooping sound as you gasp for breath. Fever, sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes are some additional symptoms. It may last upto a maximum of ten weeks. Pneumonia and other complications may result from it.
How to Prevent It?
Early antibiotic treatment is your best option as it may lessen the infection and reduce your contagiousness. Keep yourself warm, stay hydrated, and avoid triggers for coughing, such as smoke and dust.
Winter Skin Ailments
Wintertime brings a host of skin problems, including itching, psoriasis, and flare-ups of eczema, in addition to respiratory problems. Keeping the skin moisturized is the most important skincare tip for this time of year.
Wintertime is a common time for flaky, itchy, dehydrated skin, chapped lips, and UV damage. Many people are unaware that wearing sunscreen before venturing outside is still essential.
How to Avoid Skin Issues During the Winter
- To stay hydrated, make sure you eat healthily, get enough of fluids, and moisturize yourself.
- Use an exfoliator to remove dry skin on flaky skin and stay away from soaps with a high PH.
- After a bath, avoid scrubbing yourself dry as well.
- Use vitamin A and E containing products if your lips are chapped. For optimal results, moisten your lips with cool water prior to applying lip balm.
- Steer clear of taking a bath in extremely hot water as this can cause dry spots on your skin.
- Apply a thick moisturizer after using a natural cleanser.
But have you ever wondered why we get sick during the winter?
In addition, we tend to let go of ourselves in the winter months for a variety of reasons. Also, people tend to overeat and sleep too much during this season, which makes it difficult to work hard. To even go for a walk, they need to be extremely motivated. Both the swimming and the jogging cease at the gym. Winter is also a time for celebrations and weddings. As a result, maintaining a healthy diet becomes challenging, and since there is no way to burn off the calories, they simply accumulate.
Sedentary behavior and a lack of exercise impair circulation, which increases the body’s storage of fat. Additionally, fat cells can weaken the immune system and induce inflammation.