9 Habits We Need to Give Up If We Want to Stop Getting Sick When the Weather’s Cold

9 Habits We Need to Give Up If We Want to Stop Getting Sick When the Weather’s Cold

Here’s some great news: all you need to do in order to stay healthy even when it’s cold outside is give up a few bad habits.

If you give up doing the following nine things, you can not only avoid getting sick but also enjoy the cold weather to your heart’s content.

Using nasal drops before going outside

A cold environment makes your nasal passages become narrower. If we give them a little "help" in the form of nasal drops, the mucous membranes won’t be able to defend us against microorganisms or warm up the cold air we inhale. It’s better to simply blow your nose before you go outside.

Breathing through your mouth when outside

When you breathe through your mouth, you’re not able to make the air warm or give it any moisture, and this increases the possibility of being struck down by angina. To avoid this, simply breathe through your nose, slowly and deeply.

Covering your nose and mouth with a scarf

In cold weather, the water vapor we breathe out when we exhale can turn to ice if it falls straight onto the material of a scarf or coat. The air that then passes through your iced-over protective cover is colder than it would be without that barrier. This can cause angina and bronchitis and irritate the skin. If you really need to, you can cover your face, but don’t cover your nose.

Running home when you’re shivering

At the first signs of freezing, it’s a good idea to drop in somewhere warm (such as a shop or cafe) for a couple of minutes to heat up and catch your breath, and then continue on your way. Don’t start rushing faster and faster when you’re already cold.

Wearing tight-fitting clothes and footwear

Both overly tight clothing and footwear are guaranteed to make you freeze faster in cold weather. If you choose items that are slightly looser, the air between layers will help keep in your body warmth.

Drinking something hot 30 minutes before going outside

Hot tea increases blood circulation and improves your body’s defense mechanisms. But it also makes blood vessels expand. This means that when you go outside into the cold, you lose a lot of body heat really quickly. If you really need a drink, it’s better to go for water or anything warm rather than hot.

Going hungry when out in the cold weather

In order to produce body heat, we need energy, otherwise we’ll freeze very quickly. This is why you need to eat as soon as pangs of hunger appear. At the very least, you should have a snack and a cup of hot tea somewhere where there’s heating.

Applying cream immediately before going outside

When you apply creams to your skin, for the first 30-40 minutes they make water evaporate from it. In cold conditions, this leads to cooling and damage to the skin. So it’s a good idea to avoid going outdoors for at least 30 minutes after you apply your cream or lotion, or avoid using water-based creams altogether.

Warming up with alcohol when outside

You’ll feel warm for only 30-40 minutes after you drink alcohol. After this point, your body will begin to cool down very quickly. What’s more, your brain may not react adequately to this danger, failing to send a signal that you’re getting colder. It’s better to just drink inside.

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