Ten tips for staying healthy in Winter - Women's Agenda

Ten tips for staying healthy in Winter

As we write this week’s tips the wind is howling, the rain is pelting down and winter has very definitely arrived. The short days and the plummeting mercury seem to be synonymous with coughs, runny noses and itchy skin. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Join the realm of the healthy and follow our tips to protect yourself from the miseries this winter …

  1. Moisturise

    Most people associate dryness with warmth but in fact skin dries out a lot more in cold weather than in summer. This dryness can trigger dermatitis, and then you’ll be itchy as well. Just boring old sorbelene will do the trick but use it every day – and remember arms and legs as well as face and hands.

  2. Fluvax

    This two-second discomfort will protect you against the three nastiest strains of the flu virus from the last northern hemisphere winter. It won’t protect you against all colds but it can save you weeks of illness which has to be a good thing.

  3. Exercise

    We know the weather seems to beg us to sit on the couch wrapped in a doona and watch every episode of Game of Thrones from the beginning, but this is not healthy. You’ll not only gain weight but your overall health will suffer. It is harder to get motivated to exercise in winter so this is the time to commit to a class, join a comp or find an exercise buddy. It’s important to put in place those extra motivations to keep moving. Hibernation is not an option.

  4. Wash your hands

    Research has shown that the simple act of washing your hands frequently can dramatically reduce the number of respiratory infections you catch. You need to use soap and wash them properly (no quick rinsing) then dry well. If soap and water aren’t available use an alcohol-based rub.

  5. Eat well

    You’ll read lots of advice about which vitamin or mineral you should take to boost your immune system in winter. However the reality is the best thing you can take for a healthy immune system is a good, healthy diet full of fruit and vegetables with lots of unprocessed, low-fat foods.

  6. Vitamin D

    More and more evidence is coming to light (pardon the pun) that as a society we are tending to be vitamin D deficient. Despite our sunny climate, our indoor lifestyles and skin protective practices mean that we are increasingly at risk of being low in this vitamin, which means we are at risk of everything from MS to osteoporosis. Naturally enough, winter is the worst time for getting enough sunshine to keep our vitamin D levels up to scratch. If you are particularly at risk (such as if you are dark-skinned, or pregnant or obese) you might want to consider getting tested and perhaps get supplements.

  7. Cold sores

    People who get cold sores often find they are triggered by cold weather and/or cold wind. First step is to try to protect yourself. Wearing a lip balm and a scarf or collar that covers your mouth on a really cold or windy day will help. If you start getting that tingling feeling you can try a topical antiviral cream such as Zovirax. This will help. But if you get this problem frequently consider seeing your doctor for a script for antiviral medication. You would take this at the first sensation a cold sore is coming and it works brilliantly.

  8. Chilblains

    These are nasty little patches of swollen, red, itchy sometimes painful skin that can occur on your toes and fingers when you are exposed to cold. Obviously not everyone gets them but if you are one of those unlucky people with a predisposition to this condition your number one priority is to stay warm. Wear gloves and socks whenever you are out in the elements. If they do appear there are treatments available so see your doctor and don’t suffer in silence.

  9. Asthma prevention

    It is estimated over two million Australians have asthma. Between the cold air and the cold viruses circulating in the community, winter is often the time when people will get flare-ups of this potentially life-threatening disease. Think about your asthma. If you are on a short-acting puffer make sure you have an in-date one handy – it won’t help you much if it’s left at home. If you are needing it three times a week or more you need to be on a preventer. Asthma is one of those conditions that can become severe very quickly if you don’t have it under control.

  10. Sleep

    This is probably the easiest health practice to adopt in winter. Adequate, refreshing sleep is essential for a well-functioning immune system.

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