What ails the BRRR…months?
Yay! It’s the –ber months again and here comes the inevitable onset of the brrrr days. Aren’t we all looking forward to chiller nights? But, before we start rejoicing and resurrecting our jackets and other (almost) winter-ready clothes, we might as well take precautionary measures as health challenges tag along with the much-awaited Yuletide season.
For one, the cold weather is the culprit for our dry skin and hair and chapped lips. But more than these, the frosty season triggers common colds, influenza, and asthma attacks, among others.
The cold weather actually restricts natural blood flow to our body’s extremities, which keeps the normal body heat for the brain and torso. The restriction of the blood in turn reduces the supply of white blood cells, which are our chief weapons against germs and viruses that cause illnesses.
Here are the common diseases associated with the cold season:
• Colds and flu = Common colds and influenza are actually caused by viruses. We can get these any time but they are most common during the cold season because people are more exposed to one another. Meaning, they stay closer to keep themselves warmer, hence the spread of virus is faster.
• Constipation = We hardly drink eight glasses of water (or more) amid the cold season, right? Because of the very obvious reason that it is cold. Hence, there is a tendency to end up constipated. It is very important to relieve ourselves every day regardless of the weather conditions. Never delay the call of nature just because of the cold weather.
• Asthma attacks = Aside from allergies to pollen, fur and other such catalysts, did you know that the cold season also triggers asthma attacks? According to the article, “The Weather: Wreaking Havoc on Health” by Elizabeth Huebeck (http://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/the-weather-wreaking-havoc-on-health) the frosty spell initiates asthma attacks. Vanderbilt Asthma, Sinus and Allergy Program Medical Director David Hagaman says that, “When breathing in fast, the air they exchange doesn’t have a chance to warm up. As a result, the increased cooling of the airway triggers the airway to react by swelling.”
• Arthritis = Arthritis comes from the Greek and Latin words, arthron (joints) and itis (inflammation). Arthritis is sometimes caused by the changing weather conditions. The cold weather enlarges the tissues in joints. As a result, the swelling puts pressure on nerves, thus the excruciating pain.
• Cold urticaria = Urticaria or cold hive is a skin allergy caused by the cold weather. This causes swelling, redness, and itching on the skin.
• Migraines = Migraines are agonizing and severe headaches that can last for hours or even days. They are commonly accompanied by nausea. According to the Medical News Today (www.medicalnewstoday.com), 28 million Americans suffer from migraines and females are more likely to get migraines than the males. The cold weather actually triggers migraine headaches because the blood vessels in the brain constrict or dilate, thus the pain.
• Sinusitis = Both sinusitis and migraines are often associated with excruciating headache, but to differentiate, sinusitis does not have accompanying nausea. Sinusitis is the inflammation of the mucus membrane, which lines the paranasal cavity. While it is commonly caused by virus, the changing weather also prompts sinusitis. The lack of moisture in the air worsens sinusitis so that perhaps explains why some suffer nasal pains when the room air conditioner is set too low.
Tips for coping with cold weather-related illnesses:
• Keep your house warm and cozy
• Move your bodies and exercise despite the cold weather
• Unearth your sweater, scarves, and muffs
• Keep your lip balms and moisturizing lotions handy
• Ready your inhalers and nebulizers
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