The winters are a magical and exciting time for many, but they also bring with them a flurry of health issues, such as the common cold, cough, sore throats, and much more. No matter how much you love to play in the snow or sit beside the fireplace, these issues will leave you with no choice but to stay nestled into bed while you fight them off.
It is rightly said that prevention is better than a cure. So, if you want to ensure that you can enjoy the winter season without falling sick, check out these tips for fighting common winter health issues.
5 Common Winter Health Issues & Ways to Fight Them
Let’s have a look at some health issues that occur in the winter, as well as ways to protect yourself against them.
1. Common Cold
Winter brings with it the cold and flu season, and the common cold starts to infect and irritate your nose and throat. This leads to a lot of coughing and sneezing. The common cold can be caused by different types of viruses, with rhinoviruses being the most common culprit. Worst of all, the common cold can be easily passed on to others, which is why you should take extra care.
To protect yourself against the common cold, wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face. Moreover, avoid using cloth or cotton towels, especially those that have been used by other members of your family. If you do catch a cold, make sure your utensils are kept separate. Lastly, maintain a well-balanced and healthy diet, and you should be able to beat it within 7 to 10 days.
2. Flu
Flu is another common type of virus that may infect you at any time throughout the year, but it becomes more common in the winter season. Flu can happen to anyone at any time, but it targets people with weaker immune systems more. While many people get a flu shot to safeguard their bodies against the flu every year, others tend to let it run its course and wait it out.
Besides a flu shot, the prevention methods for the flu are similar to the common cold. All you need to do is to wash your hands frequently and also use paper towels instead of cotton ones. To ensure that you don’t infect anyone else, make sure to avoid close contact and cover your face when you sneeze. Wearing a facemask will help you avoid spreading the flu to others.
3. Pneumonia
The winters also come with a bout of pneumonia, a bacterial infection that occurs if you have a cold or flu infection for a long time, though it can also occur on its own. If you are suffering from a common cold or flu, and it has been more than two weeks since you were infected, it is time for you to visit the doctor and get yourself checked properly.
Proactively, you can protect yourself against pneumonia by getting the flu vaccine every year and also practicing good hygiene, i.e. washing your hands frequently with soap and water and also using a sanitizer to eliminate germs. Apart from this, you should also eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and rest as much as you can to help boost your immune system.
4. Lower Indoor Air Quality
Another problem people experience during the winters is poor indoor air quality. With many of us spending most of our days indoors, this poor air quality can be detrimental to our health. To mitigate this issue, make sure to replace the air filters. You should also dust, sweep, and vacuum all over your house regularly. This will help remove the dust from your furniture and surfaces so you aren’t breathing it in, causing a sore throat and irritation.
Apart from this, you should also get your heating systems and chimneys repaired and maintained periodically to remove dust and debris.
5. Seasonal Depression
Seasonal depression is a very real condition. Short days, cold weather and lots of darkness can leave you feeling gloomy and lethargic during the winter months. Having to be away from family and missing out on activities you normally enjoy, like taking a walk outside or going to the park with friends only worsens this condition.
While winters can slow you down, this shouldn’t be the norm. To prevent seasonal depression and feelings of sadness, you should try to stay active and maintain your schedule as much as possible. You can always go out and meet your family and friends, provided that you are properly dressed and choose the right activities.
Staying Healthy All Winter Long
These are only some of the common winter health issues that people are affected by, but there are several others, like overeating, asthma attacks, sore throat, lethargy, etc. The best way to prevent all of these is to stay active and on your feet, and try to make the most out of the winter season by spending time with your loved ones, practicing healthy habits, keeping up with regular visits to the doctor, and taking medications for a serious illness rather than waiting for it to go away on its own.