How can I stay healthy in winter?
Cold temperatures can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of flu and other lung-related problems. Our blood pressure takes longer to return to normal, and this can put you at greater risk of a heart attack or stroke. That’s why it’s so important to look after yourself in the winter.
Keep in mind these 8 points
- Keep moving. Staying active will not only keep you fit and healthy, it will also generate heat to keep you warm.
- Eat and drink well. Eat at least one hot meal each day and have hot drinks throughout the day.
- Have the flu jab every year.
- Check you’ve had the ‘pneumo’ jab (The ‘pneumo’ (or pneumococcal) jab is a one-off jab that helps protect you against pneumonia, meningitis and septicaemia (a type of blood poisoning). If you’re over 65 and haven’t had one, ask your GP)
- Keep your hands clean. Wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water, or use alcohol-based gel or wipes
- Protect yourself from chilblains. Chilblains are itchy red swellings that occur when your skin gets cold and you try to warm up too quickly, often by sitting close to a radiator or other heating, so keeping warm can help prevent them
- Organise your medications. It’s important that you don’t run out of your medications over winter
- Keep your spirits up. Try to do something you enjoy every day
Try to keep to your usual routine and if you can’t visit friends or family, phone or Skype them, and maybe ask if they could visit you a little more over winter.
If you’ve been feeling down for several weeks and it’s stopping you going out, making you feel listless and lacking in energy, it’s very important to share these feelings with someone – perhaps a friend or your GP.