When the weather temperature drops to an alarming level, even when you sit indoors you feel cold, you should keep your health safe. The body in winter is susceptible to hypothermia, frostbite, flu, colds, coughs, sneezing – runny nose… So What are the health protection measures in cold weather? Please read this article and share it with your friends and relatives.
What are the common diseases in cold weather, and winter?
The health problems we most easily encounter in cold weather or in winter are hypothermia, frostbite, flu, colds, asthma, sore throat, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, gas poisoning, etc.
The causes of these persistent diseases can be due to prolonged exposure to cold weather without ensuring enough warmth, working in a cold environment, changes in environmental temperature, and transmission of diseases through the respiratory tract, air, etc.
People most susceptible to infection include:
- Elderly, children and pregnant women.
- People working in cold, windy environments, lacking sunlight, agricultural workers, workers…
- People with chronic diseases: asthma, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, high blood pressure…
Hypothermia
The first common cold-weather illness is hypothermia. Hypothermia is a dangerous condition that puts the elderly and those with low immunity at high risk of stroke. Hypothermia occurs when our bodies are exposed to cold temperatures for a long time. At that time, the body will consume its reserves and lose heat faster.
Therefore, many young people with poor health and the elderly die in winter or on very cold days. Children under 1-year-old are also the ones who need special protection because they lose heat faster than adults and cannot generate enough heat by shivering like adults. Make sure children are warmly dressed, and covered with thick blankets, and keep the temperature in the house warm.
Older people, on the other hand, produce less heat due to slower metabolism and lower activity levels. If you have an elderly person in your home over the age of 65, check the temperature in the house regularly on extremely cold days.
Warning signs of hypothermia in adults:
- Shaking, exhausted
- Confusion, clumsiness when holding objects
- Memory loss, stuttering
- Asleep
Warning signs of hypothermia in infants:
- Red but cold skin
- Very low energy level
Frostbite
Frostbite is one of the common diseases in cold weather. Frostbite is a condition of damage to the body due to freezing, loss of feeling in the hands, and feet, and color change in the affected area. If the body is frostbitten for a long time, it can be permanently damaged, even gangrene requiring amputation.
Pay attention to the parts of the body most susceptible to frostbite, including the nose, chin, cheeks, forehead, arms, wrists, hands, and feet. If you have frostbite, your skin will turn pale, hard, and numb, without feeling pain.
Flu, cold
Flu and colds are the most common diseases in cold weather. Because harsh weather conditions give viruses from the body or from the outside environment a chance to invade the body, making you sick. Therefore, it is necessary to have measures to protect your health in cold weather to prevent flu and colds.
Pneumonia
Cold weather is most susceptible to pneumonia due to factors affecting the respiratory system and immune system. The body must consume more energy to keep warm, reducing the ability to fight viruses and bacteria, the immune system will become weaker. From there, harmful viruses and bacteria enter the lungs. In addition, staying in a closed room with little ventilation, using a heater in a closed space, and dry air also irritate the respiratory tract.
What are the health protection measures in cold weather?
To ensure your health in harsh cold weather conditions, pay attention to wearing warm clothes from top to bottom, stay safe when heating, limit going out, limit bathing at night, always use warm water, keep your mouth and throat clean…
Treatment for frostbite
Measures to protect your health when cold weather causes frostbite include:
- Soak the frostbitten area in warm water, not too hot.
- Use a blanket, sweater, or jacket to wrap around the frostbite area. You can temporarily put your hands in your armpits to warm them.
- Do not use heating pads, heating lamps, or stoves to warm frostbite areas. This could cause burns.
- Do not rub the frostbitten area as this can damage the tissue.
Always make sure to dress warmly in all circumstances.
If you are indoors, do not be subjective and dress lightly. Wear socks to protect your feet, and wear warm and comfortable clothes.
If you need to go outside, the health protection measure in cold weather is to absolutely dress modestly from top to bottom so that your body does not lose too much heat.
- You should wear thermal shirts and pants that hug your body just enough, not too tight to affect blood circulation.
- Wear several layers of light clothing rather than one or two thick layers.
- Wear gloves, thick socks, a scarf, and a woolen hat.
- Cover your ears and lower face. Parts like your ears, nose, chin, and forehead are susceptible to frostbite, so wear a mask when going out.
Safe heating
If you need to use an alternative heat source, the Ministry of Health has some notes on protecting your health in cold weather :
- Heating appliances that use wood, coal, natural gas, or kerosene all produce carbon monoxide (CO), so adequate ventilation must be ensured.
- Never use a generator indoors, even with doors or windows open.
- Do not use charcoal or gas stoves indoors.
- Do not use a gas oven for heating.
Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless but can cause death within minutes at high concentrations. Symptoms of mild to moderate CO poisoning include headache, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue. Higher levels can cause fainting, confusion, collapse, and, with continued exposure, death.
Also, make sure you have enough essential medications, oxygen, blood glucose testing kits, and other medical supplies to last a few days. If you need regular medical care such as dialysis, cancer treatment, or other important appointments, talk to your doctor to make appropriate arrangements.
Other basic measures to protect your health in cold weather
For people with underlying medical conditions, the elderly, and children, it is necessary to apply health protection measures in cold weather:
– Limit going outside when the weather is too cold and windy, especially between 9 pm and 6 am.
– When going out, you should wear enough warm clothes to block the wind, such as a coat, long pants thick enough to keep warm, a scarf, hat, gloves, socks, mask, etc.
– Always keep your body dry, and avoid getting wet, especially the neck, hands, and feet when going out and sleeping to limit illnesses caused by colds.
– Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke, and charcoal smoke, and do not drink alcohol, especially people in mountainous areas should pay attention because drinking alcohol causes blood vessels to constrict, causing high blood pressure, which can lead to stroke and death. Avoid drinks containing stimulants such as caffeine.
– Do not bathe after 10 pm, bathe for too long, or bathe in a place that is not windproof because it can easily cause heat shock, which is dangerous to your life. Use warm water to bathe and clean your body.
– You need to clean your mouth and throat regularly every day, such as brushing your teeth regularly before and after waking up; gargling with warm water mixed with a little diluted salt helps disinfect the throat and limit sore throat.
– Wash your hands regularly with soap to remove bacteria and viruses; get vaccinated to prevent flu.
– Eat enough nutrients to ensure energy for the body to fight the cold. Daily meals need to supplement 4 basic groups of nutrients (starch, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals). For heavy workers, the elderly, and children need to provide more starch, protein, fat, and vitamins than in other seasons to fight the cold, especially supplement vitamins A, and C to increase the body’s resistance. Avoid eating cold foods, foods just taken out of the refrigerator because they can easily make the body cold.
– People with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and musculoskeletal disease… who have been diagnosed must pay attention to following the principles of taking medication, and have a reasonable exercise and nutrition regimen according to the doctor’s instructions.
– Regular exercise and sports help warm the body and improve resistance and tolerance to cold weather conditions.
– Regularly update weather information on all media.
For those who have to work in cold weather, the following cold-weather health protection measures should be applied:
– If you have to work outdoors, keep your body warm and work at a slow pace.
– It is necessary to keep the body, hands, and feet dry, and avoid moisture, especially for workers working outdoors, in mines… Wear a mask while working to protect the respiratory tract.
– On cold rainy days, when working outdoors, you must be fully equipped and use waterproof protective gear, raincoats, hats, cotton-padded gloves, and a waterproof outer layer; warm and waterproof boots… because wet clothes and hair will quickly lose heat, causing the body to get cold.
– When going out in cold weather, it is necessary to wear warm clothes, especially to keep your neck and chest warm. While working, if you feel hot, you should gradually take off some clothes.
To have enough energy to work and fight the cold, workers need to eat enough nutrients, especially fat and carbohydrates, and should eat hot food.
To prevent CO (carbon monoxide) poisoning in the house: You should never use honeycomb coal or firewood to heat a closed room. If you have to use it, open the window so that the oxygen in the room is not completely burned. In particular, do not go to sleep while heating with coal or firewood.
Note when using electric heaters: Children should be kept away from infrared heaters (heating lamps, fireplaces, fan heaters, etc.). Normal people exposed directly to infrared rays are susceptible to dry skin, dry nose, burns, and high temperatures. Electric heaters should be placed 1-2m away.
Conclusion
Common diseases in cold weather and winter are hypothermia, frostbite, flu, pneumonia, and even stroke. Therefore, always pay attention to health protection measures in cold weather such as wearing enough warm clothes, being safe when heating, eating hot food and drinks, not bathing too late at night, limiting going out, drinking ginger tea, etc.
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