Common Cold To Pneumonia: How To Keep Winter Illnesses At Bay

As much as we look forward to winter dressing, scrumptious meals, celebrations, and even vacations, we cannot ignore the fact that this winter season also has its nasty side. Winter is a time to watch out for skin diseases and respiratory infections like sore throat, coughing, and sneezing, especially in some cities with high levels of air pollution.

Shedding light on the common wintertime illnesses and offering valuable insights on preventative measures, Joint Managing Director & Preventive Healthcare Specialist of Indus Health Plus, Amol Naikawadi said, “During the winter season, a number of ailments have a tendency to become more common as a result of lower humidity, more time spent inside and colder temperatures. The chance of getting sick can be considerably decreased by being aware of these frequent wintertime ailments and by adopting preventive actions.”

Let’s scroll down to learn the common wintertime ailments and how to keep your health in check during winter:

1.  Common cold:Viral infection which is frequently dismissed as an inevitable aspect of the changing seasons that affects the upper respiratory tract. A sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, coughing, sneezing, body ache, and low body temperature are among the symptoms.
2. Influenza (Flu):A contagious respiratory disease similar to the common cold is produced by influenza viruses. It affects the mouth, nose, throat, and lungs and presents symptoms such as high fever, sore throat, exhaustion, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, coughing, and congestion. In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia.
3. Norovirus:The highly contagious Norovirus, often transmitted through contaminated food, is the source of gastroenteritis, which results in symptoms such as nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, and cramps in the stomach.
4. Bronchitis:A common viral respiratory infection that can be caused by viruses. Bronchitis causes inflammation of the bronchial passages, which can produce symptoms like chronic cough, discomfort in the chest, and wheezing.
5. Pneumonia: Pneumonia is another lung infection caused by numerous pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi in the winter. Some common symptoms of pneumonia are cough, fever, dyspnoea, and chest pain. It can also cause inflammation of the lung’s air sacs. People with weak immune systems or medical disorders like heart disease, asthma, or even cancer are more likely to get pneumonia.

Preventive Measures:

• Use alcohol-based hand sanitisers and follow hand hygiene. One should wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• In the winter, it’s crucial to eat a balanced and healthy diet to strengthen your immune system.
• Eat a diet full of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, with a focus on vitamin C-rich fruits.
• Get enough sleep and exercise, or be active for at least 30 to 40 minutes each day to boost immunity.
• Wear warm, cosy clothing and avoid being exposed to the cold as much as possible.
• Stay home and keep a safe distance from family members if sick and avoid using the same items such as clothes, blankets, handkerchiefs, etc. to prevent the spread of viruses.
• Get vaccinated against flu and pneumonia annually.