As winter sets in, many people notice physical and emotional changes and need to be prepared to deal with these seasonal challenges.
From increased hair loss and joint pain to dry skin and mood changes, knowing these signs can help everyone stay healthy and feel good. Here are five signs that our bodies are preparing for winter.
hair removal
According to The Independent, Dr. Anil Sharma, a physician at Sharma Skin & Hair Surgery, said, “Rapid temperature changes can stress the scalp and hair follicles and accelerate hair loss.” There is. “In the summer, the days are longer and more hair enters the resting phase of the hair cycle and falls out after about three months,” he explains. “However, as we move into colder weather, hair loss tends to increase as the body tries to conserve heat.”
To prevent this, “It’s also important to promote blood flow to the scalp to promote hair growth,” Sharma advises. “Massage your scalp and gently exfoliate your scalp using a scalp serum that contains ingredients that control sebum and lactic acid production.” She also recommends eating plenty of leafy greens. People walking in the rain on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem, May 6, 2024 (Credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
“Deficiencies in vitamins and minerals such as iron and ferritin can worsen hair loss, and low levels of vitamin D and vitamin B12 can also affect hair growth,” explains Sharma. . “So if you’re experiencing a lot of hair loss between now and October, it’s important to include plenty of dark leafy vegetables, eggs, and fatty fish in your diet.”
Decreased mood and energy
It’s not just in your head, as winter depression is a well-known phenomenon named Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Reduced daylight hours have real physiological effects on people. When it gets dark earlier, your body is signaled to produce the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin sooner, making you feel tired sooner.
There is another important effect. Increased production of melatonin often occurs at the expense of serotonin, another neurotransmitter associated with regulating and improving mood. This combination makes you feel sleepy due to melatonin, and depressed and irritable due to decreased serotonin.
Although the symptoms are similar, there is an important difference between winter depression and major depression: the timing of onset. In contrast to major depression, which occurs regardless of season, depression is diagnosed as winter depression when it appears at the beginning of winter and subsides in spring.
what to do?
Treatment for winter depression is similar to general depression and includes a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Additionally, lifestyle changes such as sun exposure, physical activity, and complex carbohydrate intake can help maintain stable blood sugar levels, which in turn helps keep serotonin levels constant. A regular and structured diet is also recommended.
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joint pain
“Cold weather can damage your joints and slow them down,” said Dr Veena Patel, a rheumatologist at Leicester’s Nuffield Health Hospital, according to the Metro newspaper. “Possible explanations include thickening changes in the synovium (the soft tissue lining joints that produces lubricating fluid) during the winter. Alternative explanations include swelling of muscles and tendons due to decreased air pressure and Expansion is possible.”
Patel recommends regular vitamin D supplements to keep bones strong during cold weather. “Vitamin D is essential for bone, teeth, and muscle health and is linked to many diseases such as osteoporosis, hip fractures, autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease), and chronic pain management. ” Patel explains. “To achieve this, it is essential to take supplements and eat foods such as fatty fish, lean meat, egg yolks and fortified foods.”
dry skin
In winter in Israel, the air is dry and the humidity is very low, which dries out the skin on the face and body. Dryness manifests as rough patches, peeling in sensitive areas, cracking, itching, and overall discomfort. It is most commonly seen on the lips, feet, hands, arms, and lower legs, but can also appear on the face and entire body.
“Dry skin has many causes, including eczema, skin aging, diabetes, contact with cleaning products, and dryness due to climatic factors such as wind, sun, and cold. “It’s the evaporation of water from the skin. The outer layer of the skin becomes cracked and dry,” explains Dr. Rehabit Ackermann, an international skin care expert.
Here are her tips for treating and preventing dry winter skin.
Limit your showers: Showers can dry out your skin, especially if you use soap. To avoid dryness and irritation, we recommend using a soap with a pH level close to 5.5, which is the same as your skin’s pH level. Avoid frequent hand washing: Just like showering, washing your hands can dry out your skin. We recommend using a moisturizing hand cream after washing dishes or performing other cleaning tasks. Avoid overheating: It is best to avoid overheating your home or workplace and add moisture to the air using a humidifier or placing a container of water near a heat source. Moisturizes the skin. : In winter, it is recommended to apply moisturizing cream immediately after showering. You can also add moisturizing vegetable oils to your bath, such as wheat germ oil, which contains vitamin E, which speeds up the skin’s healing process. Daily Moisturization: It is important to use moisturizing products daily and choose products that contain ingredients such as collagen and hyaluronic acid. Also, in winter, the dry air tends to dry out the skin, so it is recommended to use a thicker cream than in summer.
asthma
“Cold air can worsen asthma and breathing difficulties by causing bronchial constriction, drying the airways and causing inflammation,” says Vijay, co-founder of Harley Street Mercy Health Clinic. Dr. Marcy says: “Dry cold air thickens mucus and makes it harder to expel, increasing symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath.”
Marcy recommends drinking mullein tea, ingesting licorice root, or using N-acetylcysteine supplements to support lung function.
If you have asthma, keep your inhaler nearby during cold weather, be aware of your surroundings (avoid small or crowded places), maintain good hand hygiene, and consult your doctor if you feel unwell for an extended period of time. Please.
