10/12/2013
Common Health Problems in Winter
Winter chills: Stiffness in muscles and joints are common in winter. Cold temperature tends to make muscles shorter, explaining the stiffness in the morning. Also, the cold weather can aggravate muscle spasms and cramps and joint stiffness. Winter in Urban with pollutions triggers allergies, bronchitis, sinusitis and triggers infections for COPD conditions. Avoid exposure to smoke, traffic, smoking.
It is thus, very important to increase your BMR (basal metabolic rate) during winters to stay away from joint and muscle problems. Go for a brisk walk and do a few yoga exercises like surya namaskar. Doing simple exercises like rotating your joints helps reduce stiffness of joints, enhances joint health and motility, and also warms up the body.
Dryness of skin: Problems such as dryness of skin tend to dominate the health issues arising in winter. Chapped, broken skin is an ideal breeding site for bacteria and fungi.
Viral infections: Flu causing virus attack mostly during winters. This is because they tend to live longer in cold climate and dry air. Also, it appears that in winters the flu spreads faster. Once the flu catches you, there's coughing and sneezing and wheezing for 5 days straight.
Maintain optimum personal hygiene and give special for various environment related importance to your hands. Increase your body's natural defense by getting enough sleep and eating different colored fruits and vegetables. Also, wear clean, warm clothes to avoid getting a chill.
Dimmer days: Winter depression, commonly known as SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is another common winter blue. Difficulty in concentration, sudden hunger pangs, feeling low, general tiredness and restlessness are often associated with SAD. Getting inadequate exposure to sunlight is thought to be one of the vital reasons for this condition.
Eat healthy, think positive, and most of all; exercise. Pick up 15 minutes from your schedule especially for a walk in the sunlight. If you are exercising indoors, it is best to install full spectrum bulbs that help emulate natural light.
Homoeopathic medicines help boost the immunity making one less vulnerable to viral attacks and able to withstand such climatic changes better. It also acts as a preventive measure for various environment related illnesses and epidemics.Remedies also helps to recover from acute episodes of respiratory tract conditions without any side-effects.