How Winter Weather Can Affect Your Health
As winter approaches and temperatures drop, many people begin to feel the effects of colder weather. These seasonal changes can influence our bodies in several ways, so it’s helpful to understand what can happen and how to protect ourselves during the winter months.
Immune System
Colder weather doesn’t directly make you sick, but it does create conditions that make illness more likely. People tend to spend more time indoors during winter, and this close contact can help viruses spread more easily. Cold, dry air also dries out the membranes in your nose and throat that help block germs, making it easier for viruses to take hold.
Heart and Circulation
Cold temperatures cause blood vessels to narrow, which increases blood pressure and makes the heart work harder to keep the body warm. This extra strain can raise the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events, especially for older adults or people with existing heart conditions.
Skin and Dryness
Winter’s dry air, both outside and indoors with heating systems running, can leave skin dry, itchy, and irritated. People with conditions like eczema or psoriasis may notice flare-ups in colder months due to low humidity and temperature changes.
Body Temperature and Cold Injuries
Prolonged exposure to cold can lead to serious conditions like hypothermia, a dangerous drop in body temperature, and frostbite, which damages skin and underlying tissues. These risks are higher when temperatures are very low, wind chill is strong, or clothing is inadequate.
Headaches and Blood Flow
Some people experience headaches or migraines in cold weather because changing temperatures and constricted blood vessels can affect circulation in the head.
Vitamin D Levels
Winter often means less sunlight exposure, which can reduce your body’s ability to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for bone health, immune function, and more. A lack of sunlight during winter months can lead to lower vitamin D levels, which may contribute to muscle weakness, fatigue, and mood changes.
Staying Healthy in Winter
Although winter weather can challenge your health, you can take steps to protect yourself:
Dress warmly: Layer clothing to retain body heat and cover extremities like hands, ears, and feet.
Protect your skin: Use moisturizers and consider humidifiers indoors to add moisture back into the air.
Support your vitamin D: Spend safe time outdoors on sunny days and eat vitamin D-rich foods; talk to your healthcare provider about supplements if needed.
Practice good hygiene: Wash hands often and maintain clean indoor spaces to reduce the spread of germs.
Winter doesn’t have to weaken your health if you stay informed and take proper precautions.
Source:
Azam S, Jones T, Wood S, Bebbington E, Woodfine L and Bellis MA (2019). Improving Winter Health and Well-Being and Reducing Winter Pressures.