It’s that time of the year when you sip hot cups of coffee or ginger tea while enjoying the foggy mornings and chilly evenings. While you look forward to being bundled up in your favourite winter outfits and relishing cosy nights under the blanket, you cannot ignore the fact that this season has a downside to it as well. A chill is in the air, and you all know what that means — it’s time for cold and flu season, when it seems everyone you know is suddenly sneezing, sniffling or worse.
A cold and the flu are two different illnesses. There are more than 200 viruses that can cause the common cold, but coronaviruses and rhinoviruses are by far the most causative agents. The flu develops due to the influenza virus, of which there are three different types: Influenza A, Influenza B, and Influenza C. What may seem like a cold, could be the flu. Be aware of these differences:
| Cold symptoms | Flu symptoms |
| Low or no fever | High fever |
| Sometimes a headache | A headache very common |
| Stuffy, runny nose | Clear nose |
| Sneezing | Sometimes sneezing |
| Mild, hacking cough | Cough, often becoming severe |
| Slight aches and pains | Often severe aches and pains |
| Mild fatigue | Several weeks of fatigue |
| Sore throat | Sometimes a sore throat |
| Normal energy level or may feel sluggish | Extreme exhaustion |
Yet germs are present year-round. So why do people get cold and flu when it’s chilly outside? According to some researchers and studies it turns out the cold air itself damages the immune response occurring in the nose. In fact, reducing the temperature inside the nose by as little as 9 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius) kills nearly 50% of the billions of virus and bacteria-fighting cells in the nostrils.Here are some simple health tips for winter to keep you going throughout the season:
• Wash your hands frequently. And always use tissue or handkerchief when sneezing or coughing.• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Rest – Winter is characterized by long nights and smaller days so you should give your body and mind an ample amount of rest. Going to bed early and rising early can help you to create the perfect balance.
• Home-cooked foods are some of the best winter-season foods. You should also avoid cold food and chilled beverages and instead eat warm food and room temperature beverages. Also drink some herbal tea, chicken or vegetable soup including garlic, ginger and turmeric in it to boost your immunity. Avoid drinking aerated drinks. Eat food rich in vitamins and minerals, like zinc (eggs, seafood),vitamin C (citrus fruits, papaya, pineapple and vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, tomatoes) and vitamin D(fish, mushrooms, eggs, milk)
• Gargle with warm saltwater to soothe down an irritated throat and to help to clear any infection.
• Wear sweaters, jackets, scarves, caps when cold outside.
• Reduce stress – Winter helps you slow down which helps you to reduce stress to a great extent. Having a planned and organized routine for your daily activities can help you avoid clutter and confusion and reduce anxiety.
• Exercise – Since the winter season induces lethargy, you need to provide stimulation to your body. Exercise is a great way to achieve this.
• Stay home if you are sick. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.However, if your symptoms don’t ease or disappear within a few days; you start to feel worse, or develop serious symptoms like persistent high fever, shortness of breath, or extreme weakness — seek medical attention right away.
Dr. Divya Vaz