A hot cup of coffee, fuzzy socks, monkey caps and bonfires - that’s the winter-perfect scenario we all crave for. In the past couple of weeks, Guwahati has been under a winter spell. A significant dip in temperature, rainfalls and chilly winds have set up quite the winter feel in the region. And just when we thought that it couldn’t get any more wintery, 5th Feb 2022 hit the city with a massive hailstorm after many decades, lasting for about 15 minutes. People in the city had a gala time, marvelling at the streets of Guwahati covered white in hailstones that almost impersonated snow-clad streets. While it all feels very nice, the chilly winter winds are infamous for bringing one down with cold and other diseases. Some of the commonly experienced health problems during winters are

• Common cold
• Flu
• Pneumonia
• Sore throat
• Joint pains
• Migraine / severe headaches

However, not all of us have the same ability to keep ourselves free from health hazards with minimum effort. Some of us are more vulnerable to severe complications, such as -

• Infants & kids under the age of 5; since their immunity isn’t fully developed yet.
• Elderly people over 65 years old; with diminishing immunity and comorbidity common among the age group, they are in need of extra care during the cold weather.
• Asthmatic people; people with breathing problems.
• People living with comorbidities.

Even if you don’t fall into the above category, you are connected to people in your social lives, including family members who are in need of extra care during winters. Here’s a couple of things you should be incorporating in your routine (and asked your loved ones to do the same as well) for the remaining freakishly cold days of the season, to keep your health in check and enjoy the cold weather without popping pills -

1. Check your water intake - Most of us are guilty of drinking less than the required amount of water during the winter season. Although colder days can make you forget about drinking water during the day, you can easily remedy the situation by setting water reminders on your phone. There are a lot of apps out there that help you track your water intake and they are the perfect tools that you should put to use on winter days.
2. Double up your woollen wears - Your feet, hands, chest and head need the most protection from the cold. Socks, mittens, caps and scarves are great add-ons to your usual winter wear.
3. Stretch your body - If you’re a fitness enthusiast, please skip to the next point. I’m speaking to the lazy bunch with sedentary lifestyles who are committed more to their bed than their health - Get up and walk! A little stretching in the morning will do wonders for you. In addition, if you aren’t big on exercising, make it a habit to walk more often on a regular basis. Small workouts are effective in keeping you fit as well as helping you fight off lethargy and reduce body pains.
4. Drink hot fluids - Who doesn’t like to sip on a hot cup of tea or savour a bowl of piping hot soup? These are quite effective in warming you up and comforting your mind.
5. Soak up in the sun - Sunbathing in winters are a delight, which also provides us with the much-needed vitamin D for our body. Mornings are a great time to get out in the sun (on days the sun is out). A word of caution - make sure to protect your skin with a good dosage of sunscreen lotion before stepping outside.
6. Watch out for polluted winter air - Yes, air during the winter season is more polluted compared to warmer seasons. This is because cold air is denser, allowing it to easily trap pollution in the air molecules. What can be done about it? A lot, it seems. Keeping your house well-ventilated is a good start. Open your windows every day and let the air circulation take place. It’s a good thing that we are now acquainted with wearing masks due to COVID-19. If you weren’t aware of it, a good quality mask not only protects you from the transmission of COVID-19, but also from air pollution.

Apart from these, make sure to eat a balanced diet and take good care of your skin, as it tends to get drier in the winters. Also, the COVID-19 outbreak is not yet over. Therefore, make sure to continue practising the COVID-appropriate behaviour at all times. This includes masking up in public, maintaining social distance and frequently washing / sanitizing of hands.

Winter is indeed a magical time. But safety precautions make the season a lot more enjoyable. On that note, we hope that the remaining winter days are easy on your health and cozy for your soul!