WHAT’S YOUR GAME PLAN MANAGING COLD WEATHERS?
Mummy I can’t breathe I yelled! I had to stop acting like I could manage the situation. In split seconds my feet were getting cold. While my mum was searching her work tool bag for hydrocortisone injection, I was at war with my breathe. Well, it happened that I ended up on admission in the hospital.
So, here’s a question for you. Overtime have you been so flexible in choosing your wears irrespective of what the weather says? Or you compulsorily have to get on turtle necks and mufflers? Is your choice of food and your lifestyle generally hinged on weather conditions? If you’re prone to having cold or allergies, what has been your ways of managing it? More like saying ensuring health safety during cold weathers.

Different groups of people have the degree to which they are adversely affected by cold weathers. Asthma patients, pregnant women, those with predisposing factors to asthma, those who experience shortness of breath, Sickle cell patients, Diabetic patients, etc. Much more than having common cold which is influenced by infection from a virus that lasts between 3-14 days, having cold can be triggers to more serious health conditions for different people. More so, cold weathers can increase your risk of a heart attack. When in the cold, pressure is always mounted on the heart to keep the body warm thereby causing increased heart rate and blood pressure.

Here are a few ways in which you can manage cold;

1. Get on calories- your body needs fuel to burn to keep your core body temperature up, especially when it’s cold outside. Make sure to get at least one hot meal per day. Try to have a variety of fruit and vegetables as well.
   Having a cozy slipper and a sock inside your home provides a warm effect to the body. We have established already the fact that cold weathers can trigger asthma attacks and lots more, therefore much more than having a slipper and a sock on, it important to carefully select your outfits and sleep wears to shield you from cold.
2. Dress in layers- as few lighter layers warm you better than a single heavy one. Start with one or two thin layers, just add another layer if you’re still cold and take others off when you’re hot. If you must be in an enclosed place with colder temperatures, it is advised to carefully select wears that suits that environment in order shield the chest. Wearing nose masks too can help keep the nose warm and limits the amount of air blowing into the nose.
3. Get on Steam Inhalation- according to certified medical experts, steam inhalation is one of the healthiest practices of all time. It is one of the most widely used home remedies to soothe and open the nasal passages and get relief from the symptoms of cold or sinus infection. The blood vessels can become irritated because of an acute respiratory infection, such as cold or sinus infection. The warm steam can therefore help to ease the feeling of irritation and the swollen blood vessels in the nasal passage. The warm moisture may also help to thin the mucus in your sinuses, which allows them to empty more easily.
4. Having a spicy diet- spicy foods can in themselves make your body warm. Although this must be done with utmost thoughtfulness when you have stomach problems like ulcers. While spicy foods can be very good for you, it is better not to overdo it, if it makes you unwell.
5. Go for warm baths rather than very cold baths- warm bath can allow blood flow easier. It makes it more oxygenated by allowing you to breathe deeper and slower. Also, it makes the heart beat faster, giving it a healthy work out. To mention, warm baths also relive symptoms of common cold and clears out sinuses. However, it is advised that a health professional is consulted if pre-existing health conditions or diseases are present before embarking on any form of hydrotherapy.
6. Engage in exercise- Go for a walk or a jog. If it’s too cold outside, hit the gym, or just do some jumping jacks, pushups, or other exercises indoors. Not only will it warm you up, it helps build and keep your muscles, which also burn calories and make body heat. If you’re healthy enough for it, vigorous exercise might even raise your core body temperature, at least for a while.
   Most importantly, drink plenty of fluids, get rest and keep track of your health- Tell your doctor if you’re more sensitive to the cold than in the past. It could be a symptom of a problem with your nutrition, red blood cells (anemia), blood vessels, or thyroid gland.
   In conclusion, as it has been stated earlier, not managing colds properly can be a gateway to serious health conditions. And so, it is expedient that in cold weathers you study your body, and act accordingly to the dos and don’ts of your body.