Staying Healthy when the Temperature Drops

January 24th, 2013

Here in the Northeastern U.S., winter has finally come with temperatures below freezing for the past few days.  Keeping warm is very important to maintain your immune system and prevent hypothermia.  Here are some tips to help you survive the winter.

• Drink plenty of warm liquids.  Cold air is often dry air, which can dry mucus membranes in your nasal passages and make your skin dry and scaly.  Rehydration is just as important during the winter as the summer.
• Make sure the air in your house  is humidified.  I generally recommend against using humidifiers with tanks as these can be breeding grounds for mold and bacteria.  Instead, you can place bowls of water on top of the radiator.  Having plenty of houseplants around can also accomplish this goal.
• Moisturize your skin regularly.  I keep small bottles of lotion and lip balm in each jacket pocket and in every room so that I remember to keep the skin moist.  Minimize the number of showers you take each day.  Dry skin can lead to cracks and bleeding.
• Cover up when going outdoors.  Every inch of bare skin exposed to the elements loses body heat and you can develop frost bite.  Gloves, hats and warm socks are important items of clothing, as these are usually the coldest parts of the body and lose the most heat.  Put these on about 10 minutes before you head outdoors to build up heat and you will stay warm longer.
• Heat packs can be great if you must be outdoors for a long time.  Some are instant/disposable packets that you “break and shake”.  Another version is a plastic gel pack that you can microwave and is reuseable.
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco.  In many cultures, people drink alcohol to stay warm.  While alcohol initially makes you feel warm and can dilate blood vessels so that you appear flush, in the long run it can actually lower your body temperature.  Nicotine can cause blood vessels to contract and hasten frost bite.  Smoking can also cause bronchoconstriction along with the cold air and cause an asthma attack.
• Do not use your stove to heat your home.  Many areas, especially those affected by Hurricane Sandy, are still without heating systems.  Heating your home with gas heat is a potential for fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Exercise regularly.  As I mentioned previously in my blog, cold weather is no excuse to stop exercising.  You can do yoga, crunches, push-ups, and exercise DVD’s in the comfort of your home.  Exercise raises the body temperature throughout the day.