Seasonal shifts can have quite an impact on your health. For e.g., a change in season from Summer to Monsoon, Monsoon to Winter etc. can increase the chances of developing infectious diseases, especially in the case of senior citizens and those with respiratory disorders.

This article is aimed at understanding how you can take care of your health and avoid respiratory diseases during the winter season.

Why are respiratory diseases more common during Winter?

A couple of reasons can be seen for this to happen.

• Spending more time indoors

Due to extreme cold weather conditions during winter, people prefer to stay confined to their houses with heaters on and wearing protective clothing. As a result, if there are more members staying together then people would breathe the same air which can easily allow an already infected person to pass on the infection to other members of the family.

• Reduced Levels of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is an essential ingredient to develop a strong immune system. Since during winter, our exposure to sunlight is limited, as most of us would like to remain indoors, the percentage of Vitamin D also reduces making it easy for infectious viruses to travel from one body to another.

• Viruses more active during winter

Infectious viruses causing Influenza or Pneumonia are more active during colder seasons. This makes it more likely for contagious diseases to easily spread during the winter season.

When to contact your Physician?

The best time to contact your physician for his opinion will be on observing any of the below-mentioned symptoms.

• Notice Phlegm production
• Phlegm is of a different colour
• Difficulty in breathing
• Experience chest pain
• Have fever and fatigue followed by drowsiness
• Experience a change in speech
• Experience prolonged early morning headache

How do you stay healthy during the winter season?

For patients with chronic lung diseases, staying healthy is more crucial than ever. Following strict hygiene like washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, sanitizing between washes, quitting smoking and considering vaccinations such as flu shots will help you stay healthy and minimize the risk of exposure to viruses and infections. Additionally ,

• Stay Hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids
• Breathe through your nose and not through the mouth
• Stay away from infected persons
• Stay active
• Avoid Dusty environments
• Maintain a healthy body weight

The Final Note

Staying Healthy is the basic need to lead a peaceful life. However, change in seasons can have varied effects on health. Respiratory problems can cause major complications if not attended to at the right time. Hence, it is good to see a physician on observing relevant symptoms.

It’s all about the correct diagnosis and treatment which versatile and experienced doctors at Prakriya Hospital, one of the leading hospitals in Bengaluru for comprehensive healthcare, are very good at. To understand more about how to secure your health from the effects of harsh winter, feel free to come and meet our friendly doctors at Prakriya Hospital.