By Craig Gronczewski, M.D.
Whether you look forward to cozying up by a warm fire or prefer to daydream about tropical beaches, winter is coming. The season comes with an increased risk for several health conditions, from asthma attacks to broken bones.
As the thermometer and the snowflakes fall, you can take some simple precautions to stay safe this winter and avoid a trip to the emergency room.
Asthma Attack
The symptoms of asthma – wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain – can be aggravated by the cold, dry air of winter. Additionally, muscles in the airway are more likely to spasm in lower temperatures, potentially triggering an asthma attack. To help prevent an asthma attack:
- Protect your nose and mouth with a scarf when you go outdoors. By keeping your mouth covered and breathing through your nose, you warm up and humidify the air before it reaches your airways, making breathing easier.
- Consider using a humidifier. Introducing moisture is helpful in combating the effects of dry air. Just be sure to monitor humidity levels and clean the machine thoroughly at least every few days.
- Abide by general cold and flu avoidance measures. The effects of a common cold on your respiratory system can compound asthma symptoms.
- Keep your emergency inhaler nearby at all times.
- No roasting chestnuts on an open fire, unfortunately. Smoke and fire particulates can inflame airways.
Stress Fractures and Broken Bones
Slipping on ice and winter sports accidents are common causes of stress fractures or broken bones during the winter months. You can help avoid injury by:
- Wearing appropriate footwear and treading carefully. High heels may be fashionable for holiday parties, but they’re dangerous on icy sidewalks. Even shoes with rubber soles and good traction can slip on ice and snow, so always take your time around these hazards.
- Exercising caution on the slopes. Accidents happen regardless, but daredevilry increases your chances of an emergency room visit.
- Paying attention to your body. Stress fractures can progress into full-on breaks if left untreated. If you have pain, swelling or bruising that doesn’t go away, visit the doctor.
Heart Attack
Something as common as shoveling snow off a sidewalk can increase the risk of heart attack. But any activitity that raises blood pressure and heart rate in cold weather – which simultaneously constricts blood vessels and reduces oxygen to your heart – can be hazardous, especially if you’re more a weekend warrior than a seasoned athlete. To reduce your risk for heart attack:
- Take time to warm-up. If you must shovel the sidewalk, adequately preparing your body ahead of exertion lessens the impact of cold weather on your system.
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activities if you have cardiovascular disease. Stay active indoors by doing yoga, walking on a treadmill or even tackling household chores like vacuuming.
- Keep your prescriptions filled. The holiday season is a whirlwind, and winter weather impedes travel, but neglecting to refill medication can be disastrous for your health. Stock up on your pills or arrange for home delivery if possible.
In addition, make sure you know the signs of a heart attack, which include chest pain, discomfort in parts of the upper body, shortness of breath, nausea or lightheadedness. If you experience these heart attack symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Hypothermia
Hundreds of people on average die annually from hypothermia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The elderly, young children and the homeless are especially at risk. Caused by excessive exposure to cold temperatures, hypothermia forces the body to allocate dwindling heat resources to the most important organs at the expense of all else. Early symptoms include confusion and fatigue. You can guard against hypothermia by:
- Bundling up if you’re headed outdoors for an extended period of time. Loose layers help to trap body heat. Hats, scarves and gloves prevent heat loss elsewhere.
- Limiting alcohol intake. Alcohol increases blood flow to your skin’s surface, causing heat loss. It also impairs temperature-control functions in your brain. Be mindful of how much mulled wine and eggnog you consume.
- Not overdoing it on the winter sports. While outdoor activities can help to maintain your body temperature, sweating results in additional heat loss.
Flu
The Spanish influenza outbreak of the early twentieth century killed between 50 and 100 million people around the world. Though many medical advances have been made in the century since, thousands of people still die from the flu every year. The vast majority of flu cases occur between October and February, making winter peak flu season. To help prevent the flu:
- Get the flu shot. The vaccine helped to prevent more than seven million cases of the flu during the 2017/2018 season, according to the CDC. It’s recommended that everyone who is able receive the flu shot.
- Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands, avoid touching your face and keep surfaces clean to reduce your exposure to bacteria and viruses.
- Don’t stand too close to someone who’s coughing or sneezing. The flu virus travels through the air, so it’s best to maintain a safe distance from anyone who’s visibly sick.
The Center for Emergency Care at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center (PMC) provides state-of-the-art emergency medicine, treating patients with any medical problems who cannot wait to be seen by their regular doctor, as well as severe and life-threatening illnesses and injuries. The center is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is staffed around-the-clock by physicians who are board certified in emergency medicine and specially trained nurses. Pediatricians from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), are on-site 24/7 to consult on emergency cases involving infants, children and adolescents. PMC’s Center for emergency care sees close to 50,000 patients each year.
To find a physician with Penn Medicine Princeton Health, call 888.742.7496 or visit www.princetonhcs.org.
Craig A. Gronczewski, M.D. M.B.A., is board certified in emergency medicine and is the Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Penn Medicine Princeton Health.