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With the cold weather on the way, you’re probably wondering how you and your loved ones can stay healthy this winter. After all, winter is known as the time when illnesses are more likely to spread.

Since we’re in a pandemic, you’ll want to strive to stay healthy as the weather begins to change. After all, it’s important to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from illnesses.

We’ve got you covered: here’s four ways you can stay healthy even though the colder weather is coming.

Get Vaccinated

Getting vaccinated is one of the best ways you can prevent yourself from getting sick this winter. As the pandemic has expanded, it’s important to protect yourself from getting or spreading illnesses more than ever before.

You may have seen campaigns to get a flu vaccine and how it’s important to protect yourself from potentially getting ill. Did you know that the flu virus mutates, which is why there’s a new vaccine every year?¹ That means even if you received a flu vaccine a year or two ago, the common flu virus that’s currently spreading could have changed.

Now that winter is coming and the cold weather is on the way, getting a flu shot is measure you can take to protect yourself and your community.

You also might want to consider getting a Tenatus vaccination. A Tenatus shot is recommended every ten years to help strengthen your immunity, especially since this virus affects your nervous system.²  If you’re an adult and you haven’t been re-vaccinated, you might want to consider protecting yourself by getting another vaccine.

Another vaccination you may want to consider with the cold weather on the way is a Pertussis Vaccine. This vaccine protects you against Whooping Cough, which resembles the common cold but can quickly develop into pneumonia or brain damage.³ This virus is easily spread, so it’s important you protect yourself so you don’t give Whooping Cough to others.

With all this in mind, you should consider these vaccines and any others you may need to catch up on. If you’re unsure of the side effects or if you need a particular vaccination, consult with your doctor.

Dress for the right temperature

One of the ways you can stay healthy as the weather begins to chill is by simply wearing the right clothes.

This may seem obvious, but it’s important you dress to protect yourself from the colder weather. After all, by not wearing layers, you’re making yourself susceptible to losing body heat.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, your level of fitness doesn’t change the way your body regulates temperature, meaning you should still layer up no matter who you are.⁴

Here’s a few tips on how you can start dressing for the right temperature:

• Go outside before choosing your outer wear. Take a step outside and feel the weather. This will allow you to get a grasp on how cold the air outside is. Unfortunately, weather apps may be inaccurate or don’t tell you much about how the wind feels, so going outside is your best option before leaving the house.
• Layer up. If it’s a particularly chilly day, you can wear a shirt, sweater, and then a coat. These layers will not only protect you from the cold, but if you want to remove one, you can easily do so.
• Consider the snow or ice. If there’s snow outside, you might want to wear boots instead of sneakers to give yourself better traction as you walk. Also with the cold weather on the way, consider protecting your face against the snow by wearing a hat and scarf, particularly if it’s a windy day.

Don’t pretend to be superman: protect yourself from illnesses by dressing for the weather.

Stay Home if You’re Sick

If you catch a cold from the chilly weather, you should consider staying home. After all, you’ll recover quicker if you get enough of rest and fluids.

Another reason you should stay home is you may not be as productive if you go to work. You might not feel fully functional, which could potentially slow down your output.

However, there’s other reasons you should stay home if you know that you’re sick: did you know people who have the flu are contagious within the first three days of illnesses?⁵ That means if you think you may have the flu, or any other sickness, you’ll want to stay away from others so you don’t spread it around.

Here’s a few more ways you can prevent illness:

• Don’t share foods or drinks. Whatever we touch, we leave bacteria behind. Don’t share your germs with someone else by giving them a bite of your meal.
• Wash your hands and carry hand sanitizer. Whenever you’re sick, you’ll want to wash your hands often so that way you aren’t putting your illness on the items you touch. Always clean your hands properly and carry a bottle of hand sanitizer just in case. This is also a good practice even when you’re not sick to ensure you aren’t picking up anyone else’s germs.

The cold weather is on the way, so you’ll want to make sure you’re doing your part in keeping yourself and others healthy. Stay home and rest up – you’ll recover in no time!

Go Outside

Another important aspect of staying healthy during the colder weather time is by going outside. Even though the air will be chilly and there may be snow on the ground, simply going outdoors is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

According to Healthline Media, 40% of Americans have Vitamin D deficiency. Yet Vitamin D is responsible for producing cholesterol, which helps keep your skin healthy.⁶ You can absorb Vitamin D by simply going outside and getting enough of sun.

Another important reason you’ll want to keep going outside is to exercise. Even though it’s cold, that doesn’t mean your workouts have to stop. You can take a nice nature walk through the autumn leaves or enjoy activities such as sledding on the days when it snows.

Now that the cold weather is on the way, you’ll want to think about how you can continue to live a healthy lifestyle as you adapt to the chilly atmosphere. Continue to stay warm while getting your workout in.

Saber Healthcare Supports Staying Healthy

No matter what time of year it is, it’s important to keep your health in mind. We hope that our staff, residents, and families will take precautions in keeping themselves healthy in the colder weather.

To learn more about Saber Healthcare and what we offer, click here.

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.

Sources

1. "Why You Should Get the Flu Shot." Saber Healthcare Group, saberhealth.com. October 19^th, 2020. Accessed October 20^th, 2020. https://www.saberhealth.com/news/blog/why-you-should-get-the-flu-shot. 
2. Steckelberg, James M. “Tenatus Shots: Is the risky to receive ‘extra’ boosters?” Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, mayoclinic.org. April 25^th, 2020. Accessed October 16^th, 2020. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tetanus/expert-answers/tetanus-shots/faq-20058209.
3. “Whooping Cough (Pertussis).” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, vaccines.gov. January 2020. Accessed October 16^th, 2020. https://www.vaccines.gov/diseases/pertussis#:~:text=There%20are%202%20vaccines%20that,tetanus%2C%20diphtheria%2C%20and%20whooping%20cough.
4. King, Dominic. “5 Best Tips for Getting Dressed to Exercise in Cold Weather.” Clevelandclinic, health.clevelandclinic.org. November 3^rd, 2016. Accessed October 16^th, 2020. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/5-tips-dressing-cold-weather-exercise/.
5. “Stay Home When You Are Sick.” U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. August 31, 2020. Accessed October 16^th, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/business/stay-home-when-sick.htm.
6. Raman, Ryan. “How to Safely Get Vitamin D From Sunlight.” Healthline Media, healthline.com. April 28, 2018. Accessed October 16^th, 2020. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-from-sun#overview.