We all know that winter comes with it’s difficulties. It might be avoiding that patch of ice on your driveway path every morning. It might be making it to work in blizzard like conditions. It could be mitigating your winter health issues when the temperatures drop low.
This latter issue can be the most insidious. The plummeting temperature can often lead your immune system to become weaker, not to mention the lack of vitamin D from natural light leading to feeling low or lethargic.
For all of these reasons, it’s important to make sure you take care of any existing health issues with an extra degree of caution. The winter weather can make even seemingly innocuous health issues worse, especially if you’re in an older stage of life.
This simple guide should help you allocate important plans to making sure you make it through the winter in good health and with enthusiasm:
Wrap up warm
This list would not be complete without this piece of advice, so we’ll include it here first. You need to stay warm over the winter, and you can’t expect your heating bill to foot the cost of that, or you’ll be wasting plenty of money you may not have.
Wrapping up warm with layers is the most important thing you can do, because then your body will stay at a maintainable temperature, and it will prevent you from getting colds. Switch to undershirts or vests and jumpers, and even consider purchasing a new robe for the evening.
Throw additional blankets on your bed, and don’t be afraid to wear hats indoors. Whatever works for you is best.
Eat more calories to help ward off winter health issues
It’s rare that you’ll see this piece of advice in an article concerned with health help, but it can be very useful if done right. Your body needs excess fuel to warm itself against the colder temperatures, and maintain that inner body heat.
For this reason, you will burn more calories in winter than at any other time. However, make sure you are wise about your intake.
An extra helping of roast vegetables, a health drink or fruit during the day can all help you tremendously without resulting in huge weight gain. Make sure you eat complex carbohydrates such as wholemeal foods, you get plenty of protein and omega 3 through fatty fish.
The main thing here is to ensure these extra calories are useful, healthy and nutritious.
The right equipment
Make sure that you tool yourself with the right equipment. For example, checking out new styles of hearing aids can help you upgrade and become more in sync with what your body needs during this oppressive season, while getting a new medical and visual check up could help you gain some important equipment you need to live comfortably day to day.
Building this ‘health survival kit’ could help you out in winter. And it’s always best to check on these each year before this season starts, as often it’s the time of year you need it the most.
Check your driving ability
Now, many people who age are often too proud to really reflect on how well they drive. It’s very easy to lose your sharp awareness as you age, or to become overcautious in your driving which is just as difficult. It’s important not only for you but everyone else on the road to make sure you have a comfortable attitude to staying behind the wheel.
During winter, the roads become icy and dangerous, and you may need to react to threats in a much more responsive way than any other time of the year. If you can’t meet this demand, you may be in danger.
For this reason, you need to check your driving ability. Don’t be afraid to pay for a refresher course at your local driving school, which will act as a quick recap for everything you likely know and understand so far.
Your instructor may notice a few bad habits you have built up over the years, and help you reduce their impact. This can incredibly useful.
Don’t worry about having your license taken away from you. They are there to help, and if they truly dictate that you shouldn’t be driving, then you may have saved yourself from a fatal crash concerning yourself and others on the busy roads.
Hoard medical supplies
If the worst happens and a blizzard prevents you from leaving your home for a time, it’s important to have a well-stocked medicine cabinet. Make sure you buy in bulk for the winter, so if you are preventing from heading to a store and purchasing your required item, you will have plenty left over.
With these tips, you’re much more likely to experience the winter conditions with a better and more inclusive understanding of your health, and what is required to maintain it.
Very helpful advice here, Christy!
You truly offer quality tips for people to consider. I hope your readers actively decide to follow some of these tips. They can dramatically affect lives.
Great tips, Christy. If you are going to be out on the road, make sure you keep basic supplies in the car such as flashlights or flares, blankets, water and food. Also, wear or bring cold weather gear like boots and gloves in case you have car trouble or get caught in a snow storm.
Good tips. Thanks for sharing
Bonjour Christy,
Très intéressant tous ces conseils pour ce protéger du froid. Tu as raison, les jeunes enfants ainsi que les personnes âgées sont les premières victimes d’un climat très rude. Il est important d’avoir de bons conseillés tels que toi.
Mille Mercis pour ta gentillesse et ta douceur.
Gros bisous de France.
Tony
A very appropriate tips do comfortable winters
Tip #1 and the final one about hoarding medical supplies are the big take-aways for me. I don’t drive in snow and ice (20 years of not driving AT ALL in NYC left me cautious). LOL – I thought I was the only one who ever wore neck-scarves or hats inside. I keep my home quite cool, even in the winter, but I can’t stand to BE cold.
I’m big on layering and have warm coats, scarves robes and jammies, but I need to remind myself to stock up on the cold and flu vitamin preventatives: echinacea, C, etc. – and fill my freezer with some frozen juices and veggies for back-ups when I can’t get out during a winter storm.
AND check on my basics, Pepto Bismol, allergy and sinus meds (because I certainly can’t open the windows to air out the house until the weather warms up – and needing Pepto when I can’t get to the store would be miserable).
Gosh, you’ve really jump-started my brain, Christy — but you left out something VITAL . . . a backstock of wine, bo-de-oh-de! :)
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie)
Really great advice, Christy :-)
Great tips Christy!
Great post, with great tips.
Lots of good advice here, Christy. I dose up on vitamin C in the winter. I swear, it can ward off just about anything :) ♥
Great tips, Christy. It is the first time I’ve heard the need to load up on calories. 😜
Good suggestions, Christy! Winter certainly brings with it health hazards.
Great post Christy: You mentioned Vitamin D. I remember a number of years ago I was feeling extremely drained in March. This is rare for me, so I made an appointment with my doctor. She said it was probably a virus, but wanted to check one more thing and ran my Vitamin D levels. It came back extremely low. She put me on supplement and I’ve never dealt with that kind exhaustion since. (Obviously, this is only my experience. I’m sure there could be many reasons for exhaustion.)
I hadn’t thought about hoarding medical supplies – that’s a great idea. I’ll usually wear my winter hat in the house in though – it’s about time to start doing that again while adding some calories with hot chocolate! :)
Great tips, Christy. Keeping medical supplies on hand is important…and not using medications with old expiration dates.