It’s not you; winter can make you feel sluggish and sicker. While the cold usually comes with the cold and flu symptoms, it can also increase your risk of feeling more depressed. Read on to explore your winter wellness guide to help prevent several illnesses.

Reduce the Risk of Allergies

Spending more time indoors can flare up allergy symptoms if you are allergic to dust mites and mould. In most cases, your windows are closed during this time, making it easier to be constantly exposed to these pathogens. The cold air can also dry out your nasal cavity and increase an itchy and irritated nose, leading to nosebleeds if proper treatment isn’t administered.

You should visit a doctor or buy over-the-counter medications if you experience these allergy symptoms in winter:

• A runny or stuffy nose.
• Constant sneezing.
• Morning headaches.
• Watery and itchy eyes.
• Postnasal drip.

Stay Active

When it’s too cold, avoiding going to the gym to snuggle up in your warm bed is easy. However, a drop in temperature doesn’t mean you shouldn’t maintain your recommended physical activity. Plus, these are benefits you can reap when you brave the cold weather for your workout:

• Boost your immune system: Your immune system can work harder to fight against the common cold and flu.
• Elevate your mood: A workout produces mood-boosting endorphins, helping prevent the risk of seasonal winter depression or the “winter blues.”
• Improving your heart health: Exercise improves how your heart pumps blood to keep you warmer, making it ideal for people with underlying cardiovascular conditions.
• Staying hydrated: Drinking water while you exercise helps you stay hydrated, boost your energy levels and flush toxins to ensure your organs function properly.

Eat Well

Winter offers nutritious fruits and vegetables such as broccoli and oranges packed with antioxidants and beneficial vitamins to improve your immune system. A healthy diet can prevent illnesses and chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Cold weather could affect your energy levels and weaken your immune system; that’s why you should consider these foods to ensure you stay healthy:

• Vegetable and broth-based soups to make you feel rejuvenated and fight against the cold and flu symptoms.
• Citrus fruits like lemons for their anti-inflammatory effects.
• Dairy products are a great vitamin D source for building and maintaining healthy bones.
• Whole grains for soluble fibre to strengthen your heart health.

Hydrate Your Skin

Cold weather and indoor heating can lead to several challenges with dehydrated skin. Your skin might respond poorly to winter, leading to skin conditions and significant flare-ups of existing conditions like eczema that leave your skin drier and flakier than usual. While dry skin in winter affects most people and is inevitable, a skincare routine can help nourish and boost the health of your skin during these months.

• Apply moisturiser straight after taking a bath or shower.
• Consider heavier creams in the evening to replenish your skin overnight.
• Use a humidifier to improve the air quality when indoor heating is on.
• Avoid exfoliating your skin if it’s dry and flaky.
• Drink plenty of water to ensure you’re hydrated and keep your skin looking healthy from the inside.

Maintain Your Hygiene

Winter is mainly known for bouts of illnesses that affect most people. The leading cause is that you are most likely to pick up germs and viruses in confined spaces when it becomes colder. Moreover, it’s easier to skip washing your hands or showering when it’s colder.

However, practising good hygiene can help you reduce the risk of infections and help you fight against the cold and flu. Here’s how you can maintain your health in winter:

• Wash your hands regularly and dry them properly to prevent the spread of germs.
• Avoid touching your face and eyes to reduce the risk of respiratory infections.
• Refrain from physical contact with someone who’s sick.
• Carry hand sanitiser as your best defence against bacteria and viruses that can infect you.
• Maintain good oral health by brushing and flossing twice daily to reduce the risk of mouth infections and inflammation that might weaken your immune system.

Manage Seasonal Depression

Did you know the urge to stay indoors to avoid cold temperatures might impact your mental health? The lack of sunlight in winter affects your brain’s ability to produce the recommended serotonin levels, a hormone that regulates your mood. Low levels of serotonin can cause various mental and physical health concerns, such as irregular sleeping patterns, a low appetite and digestive issues.

A combination of medications and therapy can improve depression symptoms. Other ways to manage winter blues include:

• Being outdoors.
• Regular exercise.
• Regulating your sleeping patterns.
• Eating healthy.
• Spending time with family and friends.

Even though keeping healthy might be challenging in winter, managing your wellness is important to reduce the risk of falling ill. When your health and underlying conditions are managed, you might not experience most infections while navigating this cold season. This is why a Day-to-Day Affinity Health Plan is ideal for managing and treating daily illnesses like the flu this winter.