The fall season is here and so are the illnesses that will top the hit list;
eventually rising the number of patients at clinics and dispensaries of doctors. Like rainy season,
winters too have their own share in challenging our immunity and health. But it is up to us to ensure
that we first prevent winter disease
and if not, fight back strong. Here, let's see some of the illnesses
and conditions that get aggravated during this season and understand how to prevent them.
5 Winter illnesses To Avoid
- Flu
- Heart attack
- Asthma
- Heart attack
- Sore throat
- Cold
Lets understand each one in details
- Colds
Though common colds may affect at any time of the year, the peak timings are rainy months and winters. Like flu,
colds are infection of the upper respiratory system and come along with nasal congestion, sneezing, scratchy throats,
along with other symptoms that depend on the severity of the condition.
Prevention
Keep yourself safe from getting infected by individuals who are already suffering from one. Ensure to keep your
house and household items like utensils, towels, etc. clean. Make sure to follow proper sanitation habits during
and after attending a person with a runny nose, sneeze or cough.
- Sore throat
Yet another common condition seen around, and is mostly caused by viral infections. Moreover, there are also
certain evidences which attribute the temperature changes to be responsible for this condition. Sore throats
may flare up upon entering a warm or heated room immediately from icy outdoors.
Remedy
A quick and best remedy: gargle with warm salt water. Though the infection may need medical attention, salt
water gargles can help in soothing the inflammation arising due to sore throat.
Prevention
Have a habit of drinking warm water rather than cold or chilled water during winters. Also, having ginger tea or
ginger juice with honey can help in preventing and also keeping sore throat at bay.
- Asthma
While season like rains provoke allergens, cold air during winters gets symptoms of asthma such as shortness of
breath and wheezing infuriated. Moreover, cold temperatures also make working for individuals with the condition
more problematic and can give rise to bronchoconstriction (narrowing of the airways) making breathing even harder.
Prevention
Stay more and more indoors on very cold or windy days during winters. Ensure to cover your mouth, nose and ears by
using a scarf or handkerchief, so the cold air does not aggravate and give rise to its symptoms. Be more vigilant
towards following your medication schedules and also keep rescue inhalers close at hand.
- Heart attacks
During winters, the heart has to work even harder to keep our body warm and adapt to the shift in temperatures. Also,
cold temperatures are found to be the best contributors of increasing atherosclerotic plaque deposition in the blood
vessels, making the flow of blood reduce, thus causing an increase in the blood pressure which automatically strains
your heart. All these factors eventually contribute in increasing the chances of having a heart attack.
Prevention
Ensure to avoid too fatty foods in your diet for healthy heart. Keep yourself warm and cozy by using scarves, gloves, etc.
- Flu
A major concern in individuals who are vulnerable to infections and have low immunity, flu is yet another concern
during the winters. Also, individuals with long-term health conditions like kidney disease, Diabetes and people of
older age show more chances of being at risk of getting flu.
Prevention
Besides getting yourself vaccinated for the same, ensure to follow basic rules of keeping oneself away from any
infection. Habits such as washing hands, having a good night's sleep, etc. should be followed to minimise the risk
of getting flu.
Learn how to tackle Winter illnesses now!
- Keep yourself warm
Yes, your grandma was right when she asked you to wear that sweater or a scarf around your head to cover your
ears. Keep yourself warm during winters as this will help you avoid major number of diseases like cold, cough, fever
etc. during this season
- Wash your hands
This rule is not just applicable for rainy seasons, but also during these cold months of the year. With all the
more being prone to cold and cough and using your hands to shield the aerosols while sneezing or coughing, it
becomes important that you pay attention to habits like washing hands thoroughly.
- Plenty of liquids in
Though it is quite normal to increase your appetite for munching than drinking during winters, keeping yourself
hydrated is also crucial. Ensure you don't miss those 2 litres of water count any day in this cold season of the
year.
- Move, Move and Move!
It's natural for our body to get in a hibernation mode with the winter setting in; but ensure you are active and
tackle the laziness. Regular physical activity is always very important but even more in the winters. Moreover,
regular activity will keep your blood circulation active and aid in making your immune cells increase to fight
against season-driven diseases.
Tips to Winterise Yourself!
- Keep your immunity boosted!
Though you need to stay healthy all round the year, winter needs more attention. Ensure to keep your
health and immunity boosted to fight any kind of diseases.
- Get good sleep!
Don't compromise sleep during the cold months. Good night's sleep is essential for keeping
immunity boosted.
- Exercise regularly
Though it will be a tough job to move out of the bed for this, it is important to practice some form of physical
exercise like yoga, relaxation exercises, etc. to keep yourself healthy and fit.
- Eat well
You may be tempted to eat more of warm food which are high in fats, salt or sugar, but it is rather beneficial
to savour fruits, veggies which are healthy and safe to manage your weight. Avoid too much of alcohol.
- Stay hydrated!
Though the cool weather may not make you feel thirsty, ensure to keep yourself hydrated & drink enough water to
keep your fit and healthy.
Winter is just another season of the year; but don't let this fall make you fall sick. Ensure to keep yourself
warm and your immunity strong!
