17° Partly Cloudy
Hi: 16° Lo:11° 7 day
Hi: 16° Lo:11° 7 day
With the dropping temperatures, health problems seem to increase tenfold. Few of us manage to battle through the winter months without some illness or another. Let's have a look at some of the nasties we're up against this season.
Washing your hands regularly increases your chances of ducking those horrible colds. By October, it seems like everyone at work is coughing, sneezing, and blowing their nose. Touching surfaces increases the transfer of harmful bacteria, so keeping your environment exceptionally clean is important. In the old days, cotton hankies were carried around frequently, but always use disposable tissues, as you might reinfect yourself.
This uncomfortable problem usually accompanies the dreaded cold, and is caused by a viral infection most of the time. If you find yourself with a sore throat, gargle warm, salted water – it should have a soothing effect. Recipe: one teaspoon of salt per glass of warm H2O.
For asthma sufferers, the cold air can trigger symptoms like wheezing or shortness of breath. If you can, stay indoors on very cold days and be careful with any medication you take. Never leave home without your inhalers.
This unpleasant bug causes excessive vomiting and is highly infectious. Norovirus usually clears up in a few days, but if you are unlucky enough to get this bug, make sure you take on lots of fluids. Young children and the elderly need to be extra careful when dealing with the norovirus.
According to those suffering with painful joints, their arthritis is worse in the winter. Scientists aren't too certain why this is the case, but the stiffness and pain are usually affected by weather conditions.
You may find that sleeping becomes difficult, so consider electric adjustable beds for that extra support. A little gentle exercise not only improves the outlook, but it will ease the problems that come with painful joints. Swimming is the best option for moderate activity.
There's no cure for a cold sore. Depending on the severity, they are pretty unsightly things, and can leave the sufferer feeling down. Cold sores usually crop-up when you haven't been looking after yourself, or your immune system is down. Take extra care to eat healthily, exercise, and take on plenty of vitamin c.
Your heart has to work harder to keep your body warm during the winter months. The extra strain can lead to heart attacks. Stay warm in the home and be careful to wrap up when you go outdoors.
This condition is fairly common when the extremities get too cold. Your hands and feet can change colour and become unbearably painful – it's a sign of bad circulation. Smoking or drinking caffeine can worsen the symptoms, so kick the habit and put on warm gloves and socks.
In wintertime, the humidity in the air is low, so many people find they suffer with dry skin. Using moisturiser is essential to keeping dry skin at bay. Moisturiser seals the skin to keep the body's natural moisture locked-in.
