With winters come a host of diseases that make life a tad bit difficult. This season is synonymous to several ailments, which include cold, cough, flu, heart problems, etc., which can out your life off track. The reason behind this can be many. As we know that the days are shorter in winters, it becomes challenging for people to keep up with their fitness regime, which they usually follow in summers. Also, with the cold comes the sluggish feeling where it is mostly possible for people to skip their workouts. What adds to this is the craving to eat everything fattening and heavy, which people are unable to sweat it out due to lack of physical activities.
Moreover, there exist several myths when people say one could catch a cold if not wearing warm clothes. It is more of inhaling virus particles, which are commonly present in the air during winters. This directly affects the upper respiratory tract leading to seasonal cold and cough. Common cold travels when one person sneezes. Also, the virus can be transmitted only by touching what a person with flu touched. To help you stay healthy and active this winter, Dr Saad Hafeez Usmani, Consultant- Internal Medicine, Columbia Asia Hospital Whitefield, talks about the 4 common health problems faced in the winters and it proper prevention and care tips:
1# Sore Throat: Dryness, pain and the patchy feeling in throat indicates that you have a sore throat, which is a common allergy that happens in winters. One of the major reasons for sore throat is the cold and the weather.
2# Asthma: A prevalent lung disease, asthma causes due to inflammation in the lung airway, which leads to symptoms like coughing, sneezing, tightening of chest etc. Also, there exist two asthma types: Allergic and Non-Allergic. Allergic asthma happens due to dust, smoke and pollen and the non-allergic one happens due to weather.
Also Read: Asthmatics! Here Is Your Shield To Calm Asthma Symptoms During This Season
3# Joint pains: What happens in winter is that the body conserves more heat leading to more blood being circulated to the heart and lungs. The time when this happens, there can occur a shooting, contracting pain in the joint vessels, knee, shoulders, etc., leading to joint pain. Orthopaedics state that one should take extra care during winters by keeping them packed during winters.
4# Heart Attack: As the temperature drops, there increase the chances of a heart attack due to a decline in the temperature of the body, which is also known as hypothermia. The reason for this is that the heart is severely affected by the increased heart rate and blood pressure. This is when the heart has to perform to keep the body warm. The changes in heart rate and blood pressure increase the risk of blood thickening and blood clots leading to heart attacks and stroke.
Also Read: Heart Failure Patients At High Risk Of Hospitalisation During Winters
Prevention and Care For A Healthy Winter
It is a must to take basic precautions during winters to stay healthy and happy. Basic tips that one should follow is to cover their mouth, wash hands properly, avoid coming in contact with dust, stay hydrated and eat a balanced diet. Also indulging in regular exercises like swimming and yoga can help keep one's health on the place during winters. Further, one should avoid any medication without consulting a doctor.
With Inputs from Dr Saad Hafeez Usmani, Consultant- Internal Medicine, Columbia Asia Hospital Whitefield
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