Winter Can Be Harmful to Our Health : With winter upon us comes less sunlight, shorter commutes home from work and more time spent indoors drinking something hot that might not always meet our desired temperature requirements. Unfortunately this creates the perfect conditions for us all getting sick: many viruses thrive in closed environments with lots of people close together while also taking advantage of wet and cold conditions outside which encourage people to stay indoors longer–creating an ideal breeding ground for viruses to flourish and spread further into our bodies.
But while being sick at any time of year is never fun, winter illness is particularly unpleasant. Aside from being covered in germs (think flu season!), being trapped inside and feeling miserable adds another layer of misery when you have an infection.
1) Keep Your Hands Clean
If you want to remain as healthy as possible during this winter season, the key to staying well is avoiding touching germs in the first place. Hands are one of the primary vectors for transmitting viruses; therefore, keeping them germ-free at all times may be impossible.
At home, washing your hands regularly with soap and water will keep them clean. However, soap alone may not be effective at killing viruses; therefore it may be worthwhile using alcohol-based hand sanitizer alongside regular hand washing as an additional measure to kill germs more efficiently. Although hand sanitizer may not work as efficiently against germs as bar of soap would do; nonetheless it still does a better job than regular hand washing alone!
2) Get Sunshine When You Can
Vitamin D is one of the key vitamins needed to keep immune systems strong against winter viruses and prevent illnesses like influenza. Furthermore, Vitamin D also plays an integral role in maintaining good mood regulation and avoiding depression – something many experience during seasonal depression (commonly known as winter blues).
As winter sets in, it’s important to keep in mind that sunlight’s rays have less power to provide vitamin D synthesis; therefore, fall and early spring are ideal times to take your daily recommended dosage of Vitamin D. One effective strategy for doing so is walking outside in minimal clothing during sunny weather; for those with sensitive skin there are also long-sleeved shirts, pants and hats you can wear instead.
3) Stay Away From Public Places When You’re Sick
When you have the flu and feel terrible, staying home may seem like the last thing on your mind. Yet staying away can do everyone a favour: contagious illness such as colds or flu can easily spread without you realising. Therefore it is wise to avoid public spaces such as work, school, grocery stores and public transit when sick – this will reduce their spread to others, plus prevent others from becoming infected through your actions by clearing away any mess you leave behind quickly and properly.
4) Use A Humidifier To Fight Dry Air
Dry air can be a serious health risk during the cold winter months. It can lead to headaches, dry skin and worsen seasonal allergies for some people – not to mention increased risks of heart and lung diseases as well as poorer quality sleep.
To combat these concerns, you can use a humidifier to increase humidity in your home environment. While some humidifiers emit mists that could harm your health, others are specifically designed to emit only clean steam.
If you want to maintain a healthy home environment without breaking the bank, invest in a humidifier.
5) Don’t Forget To Wash Your Bedding And Clothes
Contracting a cold can be a dreaded experience for people of any age, but those born with weaker immune systems, particularly children, should take special precaution. That is why bedding and clothes that become dirty should always be washed as soon as they appear – even if only minimal staining occurs – including sheets if you come down with illness (they should also be washed at least weekly) along with sports gear or work uniforms that have come into contact with it (eg, sheets if exposed).
6) Get A Flu Shot If You Can
If possible, getting a flu shot should be part of your plans this season. Flu can be painful and make people miss work or school, while Beijing’s notorious smog problem may make matters even worse.
If possible, seek to obtain a flu vaccination before winter sets in. These shots become less effective with each passing season, like other preventive measures they are not 100% reliable.
Still, the best way to defend against influenza is to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Be mindful that, even if you do get sick with flu-like symptoms, dehydration may make the situation even worse – to stay hydrated it’s essential to refrain from caffeine consumption and drink lots of water to stay hydrated!
Also refer to : 6 Tips for Better Health You Can Start Doingmmediately
