Prevent the winter ailments
Winter is considered as the season for flu and cold, for fever and skin diseases and other dangerous ailments that may lead us to rush into hospital. With the dropping of temperature our body needs special caution to be accustomed with climate change. Preparing ourselves for the chill is not very troublesome. The easiest way to avoid feeling the winter blues is to stop hibernating and get outside. Even a short 10-minute walk or lounging on a bench in the sun can help your mood. While there is no foolproof way to keep the germs away, following a few basic thumb rules can help minimise the sniffs and sniffles. Keep your house happy
Instead of using artificial light during this time, try to use natural light. Open the blinds early in the morning and try to keep windows free of obstacles to let the best light into your house. Make sure there are no great contrasts from one room to another, because older people have difficulty adjusting to changes in light and high contrasts increase the risk of slip and falls. Soap and water
It is cold season, and germs are preparing for battle. Germs are everywhere from home door to office room. Most germs are transmitted by shaking hands. Most of us do not wash their hands after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand sanitisers are less effective than ordinary soap. Liquid dishwashing soap may be best of all. In one study, dishwashing soap was up to 100 times more effective than the antibacterial variety. Exercise
One of the worst effects of winter season is fatigue and the urge to curl up in a blanket and avoid leaving the house. Fight this! Keep going to the gym if you usually do, or start exercising a bit if you did not before. Exercise is constantly praised for its benefits in boosting body's immune system and keep it fit for work. The researchers point out that regular exercise can fight off germs. Exercise has lots of benefits, but do not wait until the sniffles start to hit the treadmill. Drinks, fruits and vegetables
Carrots, pumpkin, squash, spinach and broccoli are packed with immune-boosting carotenoids. Dried fruits such as raisins and blueberries may also be helpful. Avoid processed foods, sugary treats and polyunsaturated vegetable oil. Drink at least four or five glasses of water every day. This should not change just because it is winter. Caring skin and hair
For basic skin care during the winter, you should cleanse your face twice a day, and choose a cream-based cleanser if your skin is dry or sensitive. It should leave your face feeling soft, rather than tight or dry. At night, use a light moisturiser and during the day, a sunscreen or a moisturiser with an SPF of at least 30 as you are going to get significant amount of ultraviolet rays. Since the cold weather causes to dry your hair, massage your hair in olive oil for a few minutes. This will restore its softness. You can use oil massage once or twice a week. Olive oil can work wonders in reinforcing moisture to your hair and also keep away from washing your hair too frequently. Avoid exposing your hair to frequent coloring, streaking, or ironing as they can rob your hair off its moisture and it is advisable to avoid heating appliances on your hair. Handle your depression
While for many, the winter brings only a little lethargy and a craving for hot coffee, for others it brings depression, oversleeping and social withdrawal. Those who have seemingly more intense 'winter blues' may be experiencing a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is also associated with a weakened immune system during the winter, anxiety and overeating. In the winter there is less light; light quantity affects melanonin, which affects seratonin; high seratonin causes happy feelings and low seratonin causes sad feelings. Since SAD depends on light quantity, the treatment includes various methods of increasing light exposure. These tips can help reduce the incidence of having diseases and make the winter a pleasure.
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