HEALTH

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Tribune News Service

Your health in cold weather

THE mention of winter evokes images of sparkling snowflakes and skaters gracefully gliding across the ice. But winter can also be a time of illness and injury, if people fail to take adequate health and safety precautions.

Colds

More than 100 viruses can cause colds, the world’s most common illness, so few people escape being exposed to at least one of them. In the USA, most people average about three colds every year. Once it enters the body through the nose or throat, the cold virus begins to multiply, causing any of a number of symptoms: sore throat, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, aches and pains, mild fever, nasal congestion and coughing. A cold usually lasts a week or two.

Influenza

A contagious respiratory infection, influenza is not a serious health threat for most people. However, for the elderly or those who have a chronic health problem, influenza can result in serious complications, such as pneumonia.

Symptoms of the flu usually develop suddenly, about three days after being exposed to the virus. They include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and soreness and aching in the back, arms and legs. Although these are similar to those caused by cold viruses, flu symptoms tend to be more severe and last longer. Abdominal cramps, vomiting or diarrhoea symptoms of what is commonly called stomach or intestinal flu do not accompany influenza. The flu is highly contagious and, if it occurs in your family or community, there is no practical way to avoid exposure to the virus.

Frostbite

Frostbite is an injury to the body that is caused by freezing. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and colour in affected areas. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers or toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the body and severe cases can lead to amputation. The risk of frostbite is increased in people with reduced blood circulation and among people who are not dressed properly for extremely cold temperatures.

At the first signs of redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin — frostbite may be beginning. Any of the following signs may indicate frostbite:

• A white or greyish-yellow skin area
• Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
• Numbness

A victim is often unaware of frostbite until someone else points it out because the frozen tissues are numb.

Hypothermia

Serious health problems can result from prolonged exposure to the cold. The most common cold-related problems are hypothermia and frostbite.

When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Prolonged exposure to cold will eventually use up your body’s stored energy. The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature. Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia particularly dangerous because a person may not know it is happening and won’t be able to do anything about it.

Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water. Victims of hypothermia are most often elderly people with inadequate food, clothing, or heating; babies sleeping in cold bedrooms; and people who remain outdoors for long periods — the homeless, hikers, hunters, etc.

Warnings signs of hypothermia

Adults: shivering/exhaustion; confusion/fumbling hands; memory loss/slurred speech; drowsiness

Infants: bright red, cold skin; very low energy

What to do:

In Cold: The best way to treat a cold is to take a mild pain reliever, avoid unnecessary activity, get as much bed rest as possible and drink plenty of fluids, especially fruit juices. Over-the-counter cough and cold remedies may relieve some of the symptoms, but they will not prevent, cure or even shorten the course of the illness.

While there is no vaccine to protect you from catching a cold, there are ways to lessen your chances of coming down with the illness. Keep up your natural resistance through good nutrition and getting enough sleep and exercise. Turn your thermostat down and keep the humidity up in your home. Dry air dries out the mucous membranes in your nose and throat and causes them to crack, creating a place where cold viruses can enter your body. Avoid direct contact with those who have colds and wash your hands frequently. Drink herbal tea, vegetable and chicken soup and eat dates (khajur).

In influenza: Bed rest, a mild pain reliever and lots of fluids are the best treatment. (Caution: Unless advised by a physician, a child or teenager with a flu-like illness should not take aspirin. Its use in the presence of a flu infection is linked with an increased risk of Reye syndrome. Instead use another mild pain reliever that does not contain aspirin.) Antibiotics are not effective against flu viruses.

In frostbite: To treat frostbite, warm the affected part of the body gradually. Wrap the area in blankets, sweaters, coats, etc. If no warm wrappings are available, place frostbitten hands under the armpits or use your body to cover the affected area. Seek medical attention immediately. Do not rub frostbitten areas; the friction can damage the tissue.

Do not apply snow to frostbitten areas. Because its temperature is below freezing, snow will aggravate the condition. Unless absolutely necessary, do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes — this increases the damage.

Immerse the affected area in warm — not hot — water (the temperature should be comfortable to the touch for unaffected parts of the body). Or, warm the affected area using body heat. For example, the heat of an armpit can be used to warm frostbitten fingers.

Don’t use a heating pad, heat lamp or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming. Affected areas are numb and can be easily burned.

In hypothermia: To prevent further heat loss, wrap the patient in a warm blanket. A hot water bottle or electric heating pad (set on low) can by applied to the person’s stomach. If the victim is alert, give small quantities of warm food or drink. Do not give alcoholic beverages. Do not give a hot shower or bath, since it could cause shock. Generally, do not try to treat hypothermia at home. If the victim has on any wet clothing, remove it. Warm the centre of the body first —chest, neck, head, and groin — using an electric blanket, if available. Or use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets. Warm beverages can help increase the body temperature. Do not try to give beverages to an unconscious person. After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including the head and neck. Get medical attention as soon as possible.