Winter Health Tips

WINTER HEALTH TIPS

The mention of winter evokes images of sparkling snowflakes and skaters gracefully gliding across the ice. But winter can also be a time of illness and injury, if people fail to take adequate health and safety precautions.

Colds

More than 100 viruses can cause colds, the world's most common illness, so few people escape being exposed to at least one of them.

Once it enters the body through the nose or throat, the cold virus begins to multiply, causing any of a number of symptoms: sore throat, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, aches and pains, mild fever, nasal congestion and coughing. A cold usually lasts a week or two.

The best way to treat a cold is to take a mild pain reliever, avoid unnecessary activity, get as much bed rest as possible and drink plenty of fluids, especially fruit juices. Over-the-counter cough and cold remedies may relieve some of the symptoms, but they will not prevent, cure or even shorten the course of the illness.

While there is no vaccine to protect you from catching a cold, there are ways to lessen your chances of coming down with the illness. Keep up your natural resistance through good nutrition and getting enough sleep and exercise. Turn your thermostat down and keep the humidity up in your home. Dry air dries out the mucous membranes in your nose and throat and causes them to crack, creating a place where cold viruses can enter your body. Avoid direct contact with those who have colds and wash your hands frequently.

Who Knew Something So Simple Could Do So Much: Avoiding the Cold and Flu Through Handwashing
Experts increasingly believe handwashing to be the most important element of germ control and disease prevention. Cold and flu viruses are more likely to permeate the immune system when the weather turns bitter. Besides getting an annual flu shot (available to anyone over 6 months of age but especially recommended for people aged six months to 18 years and from age 50 years and over), there are precautions that everyone can take to avoid catching a virus and/or spreading one to others. Handwashing, experts increasingly believe, is a valuable tool at anyone's fingertips.

Do you know that there is a correct way to wash one's hands?

If you are using soap and warm water:

-- Rub your hands together hard for at least 15 seconds sing a song such as "Happy Birthday" twice, which will be roughly that length.

-- Make sure you wash areas that frequently get missed: the backs of the hands, between the fingers, the thumbs and the fingernails.

-- Use a paper towel to turn off the water if you use your bare hand, it will be re-contaminated.

-- If you are using waterless soap:

-- Make sure it contains at least 70% alcohol.

-- Rub the soap solution into every area of your hands until they are completely dry.

Medical experts talk about handwashing as a preventative measure for cold, flu and other illnesses


Influenza

A contagious respiratory infection, influenza is not a serious health threat for most people. However, for the elderly or those who have a chronic health problem, influenza can result in serious complications, such as pneumonia.

Symptoms of the flu usually develop suddenly, about three days after being exposed to the virus. They include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and soreness and aching in the back, arms and legs. Although these are similar to those caused by cold viruses, flu symptoms tend to be more severe and to last longer. Abdominal cramps, vomiting or diarrhea symptoms of what is commonly called stomach or intestinal flu do not accompany influenza.

The flu is highly contagious and, if it occurs in your family or community, there is no practical way to avoid exposure to the virus. Bed rest, a mild pain reliever and lots of fluids are the best treatment. (Caution: Unless advised by a physician, a child or teenager with a flu-like illness should not take aspirin. Its use in the presence of a flu infection is linked with an increased risk of Reye syndrome. Instead use another mild pain reliever that does not contain aspirin.) Antibiotics are not effective against flu viruses.

Flu vaccines, while not always effective in preventing the illness, do reduce the severity of the symptoms and protect against complications that could develop. The shots are strongly recommended for persons 65 years of age and older and those who suffer from such chronic health problems as heart disease, respiratory problems, renal disease, diabetes, anemia or any disease that weakens the body's immune system. Infants, children and young people up to 18 years of age who are receiving long-term treatment with aspirin should also get a flu shot. Persons allergic to eggs or who have a high fever, however, should avoid or postpone getting a flu shot.

Because influenza vaccine is only effective for one year and viruses vary from year to year, it is necessary to get a flu shot every year. The flu season usually begins in November and lasts until around the middle of April. If you plan to get a flu shot do so early since it takes about two weeks to develop full immunity. However, even a shot in February may protect against a late winter outbreak.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia a drop in body temperature to 95 degrees or less can be fatal if not detected promptly and treated properly.

While hypothermia can happen to anyone, the elderly run the highest risk because their bodies often do not adjust to changes in temperature quickly and they may be unaware that they are gradually getting colder. The condition usually develops over a period of time, anywhere from a few days to several weeks, and even mildly cool indoor temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees can trigger it. If you have elderly relatives or friends who live alone, encourage them to set their thermostats above 65 degrees to avoid hypothermia.

When the body temperature drops, the blood vessels near the surface of the body narrow to reduce heat loss. Muscles begin to tighten to make heat. If the body temperature continues to drop, the person will begin to shiver. The shivering continues until the temperature drops to about 90 degrees. Temperatures below 90 degrees create a life-threatening situation.

Signs of hypothermia include forgetfulness, drowsiness, slurred speech, change in appearance (e.g., puffy face), weak pulse, slow heartbeat, and very slow and shallow breathing. If the body temperature drops to or below 86 degrees, a person may slip into a coma or have a death-like appearance.

If you notice these symptoms in a person, take his or her temperature. If it is 95 degrees or below, call a doctor or ambulance or take the victim directly to a hospital. To prevent further heat loss, wrap the patient in a warm blanket. A hot water bottle or electric heating pad (set on low) can by applied to the person's stomach. If the victim is alert, give small quantities of warm food or drink.

There are several things you should not do to a hypothermia victim. Do not give alcoholic beverages. Do not give a hot shower or bath, since it could cause shock. Generally, do not try to treat hypothermia at home. The condition should be treated in a hospital.

Frostbite

The parts of the body most affected by frostbite are exposed areas of the face (cheeks, nose, chin, forehead), the ears, wrists, hands and feet. Frostbitten skin is whitish and stiff and feels numb rather than painful. When spending time outdoors during cold weather, be alert for signs of frostbite and, if you notice any, take immediate action.

To treat frostbite, warm the affected part of the body gradually. Wrap the area in blankets, sweaters, coats, etc. If no warm wrappings are available, place frostbitten hands under the armpits or use your body to cover the affected area. Seek medical attention immediately.

Do not rub frostbitten areas; the friction can damage the tissue. Do not apply snow to frostbitten areas. Because its temperature is below freezing, snow will aggravate the condition.

Winter Blues: How to Handle Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Nearly everyone gets the winter blues at some time or another, but for some, they are actually a serious medical disorder. It is estimated that over 6 percent of Americans suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and over 14 percent get the milder form called Subsyndromal Seasonal Affective Disorder (SSAD). Both disorders are more prevalent in the parts of the world closest to the poles, leading researchers to think that down feelings in the wintertime are related to the lack of daylight. Your doctor can help determine whether or not your depression is season-related, but how do you know when your depression is severe enough to warrant a trip to the doctor?

Symptoms of depression include:

-- Feelings of sadness, hopelessness and helplessness

-- Lack of energy

-- Feeling slowed down

-- Trouble falling or staying asleep

-- Changes in appetite and/or weight

-- Inability to concentrate or make decisions

-- Thoughts of death or suicide

-- Loss of interest in people and activities

-- Restlessness

If you don't have severe symptoms of depression but are simply feeling blue this season, there are things you can do to lift your spirits, such as:

-- Make it a priority to get exercise. On the rare sunny winter days, go outside and take a brisk walk so you get the mood benefits of sunlight as well as exercise.

-- Take a daily vitamin.

-- Stay well-hydrated by drinking water whenever you are thirsty.

-- When the sun is out, do your work by a window.

Psychiatrists talk about dealing with the winter blues and when see a doctor about depression.


How to Enjoy Winter Season

1 First of all find the inner child of yourself and think back to all the things that made winter special for you. As adults we seem to stray away from these thoughts and sometimes forget why winter was so magical. It's best to find this reasoning once more.

Step 2
Spend an afternoon with friends and family outdoors. Build snowmen, go sledding, and perhaps even have a snowball fight! You'll be amazed at how fun it is!

Step 3
Go ice skating. Don't know how to skate? Learn how! It's never too late to learn such a thing.

Step 4
Go outside and take a nice, winter walk. Bring your camera. Winter holds beautiful scenery, much of which you'll love to have a photograph of. Spend the day searching for beauty and create some captured memories of your own.

Step 5
Stargaze at night. Ever notice how clear the winter sky is at night? It's unbelievable the amount of stars and beauty you'll see. Bring out the telescope and have some fun!

Step 6
Cozy yourself inside after a cold day out. Treat yourself to hot cocoa and movies. There's nothing better than a relaxing night at home.

Step 7
Go out to a movie or do some shopping.

Enjoy the Winter Season!!

Bring your camera...sira pa...hehe!
kaya nag grabbed lang ako...
telescope...tignan ko na lang. mahal yata telescope.
do some shopping...pag budget...

thanks for the tips. buti nakakasurvive ako sa winter.

amie sison wrote:Bring your camera...sira pa...hehe!
kaya nag grabbed lang ako...
telescope...tignan ko na lang. mahal yata telescope.
do some shopping...pag budget...

thanks for the tips. buti nakakasurvive ako sa winter.

di kaya sira cam nmin hehehe!
buti ka pa nakasurvive kc kmi di nakasurvive sa pag-dive mo!!hehehehe
gnawa mo kming splash island lahat!,grabe..til now sakit pa ng katawan ko,di pa natanggal ung trauma!!talo pa namin sumali ng smackdown o kya K1!!!hehehehehe