As the year winds down, winter and the severity of cold temperatures, harsh outside conditions, and resulting illnesses begin to rise. While vitamin C may be the first line of defense for many when dealing with a sickness, some illnesses may be above simple home remedies. Here are a few common afflictions that people may experience, and the best course of action when dealing with them.
The Common Cold
A combination of dry and cold weather as well as the aerial spread of infected droplets are some of the leading causes of this everyday sickness. You help prevent colds by wiping down surfaces that you think a contaminated person has touched or washing your hands before touching parts of your face.
Overall, most home remedies like tea, vitamin C, and bed rest can suffice as treatments, but if you experience further infections or do not see improvement in your symptoms, visit a primary care physician for medical evaluation and treatment.
The Flu/Influenza
Easily confused with the common cold, the flu has similar symptoms to that of a cold, but tend to be more severe, and include other issues like soreness, aches, and fatigue. Whereas for a cold, you’ll feel slight discomfort for a few days, a flu can have you feeling worse and confined to your bed.
Some people with certain conditions may be at an increased risk of flu-related complications. Should this be the case, it is advised to visit your primary care physician for treatment, or if your symptoms escalate in severity, like prolonged shortness of breath, you can visit an ER for direct evaluation.
Bronchitis
A spin-off of the cold and flu, bronchitis is caused by external viruses or bacteria and causes congestion, mucus, and trouble breathing. As this illness is generally brought upon in the same way that the cold and flu are, maintaining clean spaces and proper hygiene are important ways to prevent bronchitis.
Acute, or short-term, bronchitis cannot be treated with antibiotics. If your symptoms prolong or do not go away with the help of rest, hydration, or over-the-counter medication, you may be experiencing chronic bronchitis and should see a physician to develop a treatment plan.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Some illnesses during the winter don’t express themselves in the form of coughing and mucus. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a form of depression that occurs during the shorter days as the season changes. For students, this can also compound with upcoming final exams and the end of the semester.
Your mood or feelings may change drastically during this time, and as SAD has heavily to do with the loss of sunlight interfering with your daily schedule, some ways to prevent this disorder are to intentionally bring as much natural light into your day as possible and maintaining the same schedules in eating and sleeping as you would normally.
As SAD is a mental health disorder rather than a physical sickness, it is important to have proper connections in the form of friends and family to be a form of outreach if you need it. If your mental state declines to the point where you are having darker or even suicidal thoughts, you should consider these resources:
- 7 Cups: Available as an app; 24/7 free platform for those with emotional support issues to speak to someone
- Crisis Text Line: Reachable via text or Whatsapp, free text line available 24/7 that can have you speak with a volunteer crisis counselor if you are in distress
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will allow you to find treatment centers anonymously in your local area for you to visit
All other resources, including reading materials, podcasts, and alternative self-support methods can be found here.
Weather-Related Accidents
Regardless of who you are and how strong your immune system is, you may still fall victim to one of those most common aspects of winter: ice. Unintentional falls are the second leading cause in unfatal injuries for those aged 10-24, with black ice being a priority concern.
Black ice can affect those getting around by either foot or through a vehicle and can be hard to see by the naked eye. Any injuries sustained by slipping and falling can be seen by a physician or urgent care, and we advise those who drive to maintain proper speed limits when black ice is encountered.
Migraines
Believe it or not, migraines can be a cause of colder weather when barometric pressure changes in cases of extreme cold. Because these are results of your surroundings, you will need to make some changes in your daily life, like increasing your water intake, or keeping a humidifier around to maintain moisture in your environment.
Additionally, migraines, like SAD, may come about from end-of-semester school stress and can be part of an overall mental ailment rather than just cold-related. For more information on how to help improve or treat your mental health during this time, follow this guide.
General Winter Health Guidelines
A longer list of common winter injuries can be found here. Please note that in many cases, it is more advisable that, when visiting a doctor, to use less immediate forms of treatment, done usually through primary care physicians and urgent care facilities.
Visiting an emergency room should be saved for cases that are much more serious, like in the case of a potential heart attack, or if the cold causes any extended difficulty in breathing.
If you find yourself needing coverage for any of these potential ailments, we recommend that you act fast and enroll in an ISO plan, which will cover you for injuries and illnesses that can occur during this time. Don’t wait until it’s too late!
