What Winter Means for the State of Your Health
Winter is a magical time, and the cold weather gives you an excuse to bundle up and get cozy with loved ones around you. But winter also means some added health concerns. The colder weather and lack of sunlight can have real implications on the state of your health, and knowing more about this can help you plan ahead and avoid the worst outcomes. Here are three things that winter weather means for the state of your health, and how to stay healthy through the chilly season!
Increased Likelihood of Illness
There are several reasons why winter time results in increased likelihood of contracting an illness. The cold weather is the most obvious factor, as exposing your body to the cold can mean that it becomes more vulnerable to catching a disease. There is also the increased time many people spend indoors, where germs and viruses can circulate in the air more easily. To stay healthy all winter long, make sure that you are bundling up warm whenever you are going to spend a prolonged amount of time outside, and try to limit the time you spend in crowded indoor spaces.
Mental Health Issues
If you have ever struggled with your mental health, then it probably comes as no surprise that wintertime can lead to a worsening of mental illness symptoms. Spending more time indoors, with fewer hours of daylight, and being surrounded by cold and gloomy weather all have an impact on your mental health. If you notice that you are feeling a bit more depressed or anxious during the winter, you are not alone. Light therapy and getting outside more can help ease your seasonal depression. And if you are feeling your mental health declining, please talk to someone and find help.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D is a vitamin that is produced in your body when your skin is exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D helps your body perform all sorts of functions like calcium maintenance, supporting immune health, regulating insulin, and even supporting lung function. Unlike other vitamins, your body produces Vitamin D on its own when exposed to sunlight. This means that during the wintertime, when most people are getting less sunlight exposure, vitamin D deficiency becomes more common. Make sure that you are supplementing your vitamin D intake if you are not getting enough sunlight exposure.
Winter is one of the best seasons of the year. Joy and love radiate despite the cold weather. But wintertime also brings its own unique health risks. Keep an eye on these three health factors that are impacted by the winter, and you will be ready to stay healthy all winter long.
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