PITTSBURGH — As the seasons change and we close in on colder weather, it’s important to note the chilly air doesn’t just impact what you wear.
The cold also impacts how you feel. When the temperatures change, your body can become a bit out of whack.
Breathing Problems
Have you ever walked outside in the cold weather and felt as if your breath was taken away? According to doctors of internal medicine, colder weather can cause muscle spasms of the small airway, making it narrower and causing shortness of breath. If you see this as an issue, wearing a face mask outside can help. As you breathe, it warms the air before entering your lungs.
Colds
It’s a common question: does the cold cause a cold? The answer is no. The problem is that when temperatures drop, people tend to spend more time indoors. This means folks will be in closer contact with others, which increases the chance to catch a cold or the flu. The virus can stay on skin or other surfaces for up to three hours, according to doctors. It’s important to wash your hands often to give yourself a better shot at staying healthy.
Dry Skin
When temperatures drop to cooler levels, there is less moisture in the air, which causes less moisture in the skin. On top of that, when winds become strong, they can irritate your skin. Gentle skin care products are useful and exfoliating twice a week help get rid of dry skin, according to dermatologists. Finally, adding a humidifier to your bedroom allows the addition of more moisture into the air, which replenishes the moisture in your skin.
Headaches and Migraines
Have you been feeling a pain in your head? The temperature may be to blame. Cold weather can cause your blood vessels to narrow, which in turn reduces the flow of blood, according to doctors at Tri-City Medical Center in California. Changing conditions, such as storms, extreme cold or even sun glare, can lead to a migraine by causing a chemical imbalance in your brain.
Joint Pain
Have you ever heard someone say there must be a storm coming because my knee is aching? While there is no definite scientific evidence that cold or damp weather triggers joint pain, doctors say one idea is that it causes lower air pressure around the joints. This leads the surrounding soft tissues to expand, putting added pressure on the joint and causing pain. Another idea is that cold weather directly causes contraction of the muscle, connective tissues and ligaments surrounding joints, essentially pulling on the nerves. The best medicine for joint pain is to keep moving.
Low Energy
Does it seem like you feel more lethargic in the winter months or as though you just don’t feel the same? You may have heard someone relate your “feelings,” or lack thereof, as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Sleep medicine specialists say SAD hits during the colder months because of less light exposure during the day. The best medicine for SAD is to try and get as much light exposure as possible.
Vitamin D Deficiency
If you live in the northern half of the U.S., there is a good bet you have a lack of vitamin D in your body. This is due to the fact that the number of sunny days in the north is significantly lower than those in the south. In the cold weather, you tend to stay inside more, thus not getting much sun, which increases vitamin D levels in your body. Symptoms of a deficiency include muscle weakness, greater pain sensitivity and sleepiness. Salmon, tuna, fortified milk and orange juice can all help increase your vitamin D.
Weakened Hair and Nails
Doctors say that in the cold weather, blood vessels on your skin, fingers and toes become contracted. This decreases the flow of blood and delivery of nutrition and oxygen, causing weaker hair and nails. Cooler temps dry out your skin and nails, which makes them more susceptible to cuts and injuries. Humidifiers are helpful for keeping blood flowing and skin moist.