HOW DOES WINTER AFFECT YOUR MIND AND BODY?
Winters can take a toll on your body. They can have an adverse effect on your mental, emotional and physical health. Exposure to harsh weather can deteriorate the skin, cause illnesses and exacerbate pre-existing conditions. Some vital health problems include the following list of health issues.
1) Mental health
Winters can have an adverse effect on your mental health. Seasonal Affective Disorder can occur when people are exposed to less sunlight. The disorder can exacerbate pre-existing conditions and cause changes in sleeping patterns, appetite, energy and moods. SAD can be treated through light therapy, counselling and medication. Depression can also be alleviated through relaxation in spas or saunas. You can buy spa in Adelaide, or try other measures to feel better.
2) Skin
Winters tend to dry out the skin. Winter dryness can cause inflamed redness, chapped skin, and cracked heels. Dryness can lead to your pores tightening. Due to low humidity, your skin loses moisture. This can be regained throughmoisturising and hydration.
3) Asthma and allergies
The dry weather can exacerbate allergies and asthma in people. Combinations of sinus infections, viral flu and asthma attacks can make winters a very difficult time for asthma sufferers. Being forced to remain indoors can cause an allergic reaction due to exposure to irritants. You can prevent these by taking medication regularly.
4) Eyes
Your eyes may be affected by the cold as well. You may experience burning, itching or dryness due to the dry weather, cold air and central heating. Artificial temperature regulation can cause extreme drying, especially in contact lens-wearers.
5) Weight gain
Your body’s naturally reduced levels of serotonin, a hormone that regulates mood, compels you to eat a lot in winters. You then carb-load and snack to keep your serotonin levels up. The average person then can gain around four kilograms throughout the winter season. To prevent or counteract the effect of winter weight gain, you must remain active and keep exercising.
6) Illness
Your body cannot effectively regulate glucose levels in the winter season, so diabetes patients may be affected negatively as a consequence. It is important then to ensure that you take adequate medical precautions and reduce your intake of glucose.
Flu and common colds are viral in winter months, causing an additional health concern. These can be circumvented through flu shots, regular hand washing and consumption of herbal teas and vitamins. Migraines can be similarly common due to changes in barometric pressures in cold winter months. If you experience migraines, you can reduce their effects through medication.
7) Energy
Reduced exposure to light and increased exposure to dryness and cold weather often affects sleep cycles. You will have disrupted sleeping patterns and low energy throughout the day. Sleep can be regularised by enforcing a sleep routine.
Vitamin D levels in your body may decrease and the sex drive is also lowered in some instances. To counteract the reduction in energy levels, you should have vitamin and calcium supplements and exercise to have immunity and energy boosts.
