Good Lifestyle

They call it the most wonderful time of the year. It is also an era for raging colds, painful dosages and dangerous slips and falls. Take control of your health with these 21 things you should avoid doing this and every winter, the best doctors in the country.

1

Do not be too concerned about hats

Sorry, mom, but it's just not true, you do not lose 50% of your heat from your body through the head. According to a study published in theBritish medical newspaper,The head represents about 7% of the body surface and heat loss is essentially equal to this amount (nowhere close to 50%).

RX: The author of the study concludes that it is a matter of individual preference, whether or not it is to wear a hat to stay comfortable.

2

Always wear a scarf

"According to the traditional principles of eastern east, natural factors such as wind, heat, cold and moisture can penetrate the body from the back of the neck," saysDr. Tom Ingegno, DACM, MSOM, tray. "There are several points of acupuncture between the base of the skull and the top of the shoulders that have the word" wind "in the name and the theory is the wind blowing on these areas brings a disease. It is mainly because When you keep your body warm, the energy your body has maintained your immune system running. "

3

Never forget vitamin D

Most Americans are deficient in vitamin D all year, but it can be difficult to make enough "sunshine vitamin" in winter. It's because we get most of ourVitamin DWhen our skin absorbs the UVB rays from the sun. In winter, we all came back under heavy coats, so not so much skin is exposed. In addition to this, the sun's rays become so indirect that our bodies simply can not absorb the UVB. Low levels of vitamin D are related to seasonal emotional disorder (SAD), loss of bone and muscular, at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and other problems.

RX: Your doctor can perform a simple blood test to check your vitamin D levels. You can also get a boost by eating healthy foods rich in vitamins such as mushrooms, tuna and pork chops.

4

Never shove the snow without heating

He snowed five inches last night, and you are already late at work. But before you rush outside the shovel, consider this: you can dig your own grave. "More ... than100 people die every year shovel the snow, "says Nina GeroMel PT, DPT, ATC." In general, people are more sedentary during the winter. So when you turn off this with a high-intensity aerobic workout like the shovel, it can put a greater tension on your heart and cause a heart attack. "

RX: Warm up as you would before going for a race. You will be in the cold and do an intense aerobic exercise shoveling all this snow, then make squats and stretches before getting out of the door.

RELATED: 40 ways you treat your false heart

5

Have ever wear high heels

They say that fashion means pain - just do not walk on the track until the forefront. The ice is not always easy to see on a sidewalk, so when you walk too fast in slippery shoes, it could spell a disaster. According toMayo clinic,Elderly people have a particular risk of winter fall injury. "I see a lot of people for falls on the ice," says Carol Thelen, CrNP deMERCY MEDICAL CENTER."They often say they have not seen the" black ice "."

RX: We do not tell you to sell your pair of favorite heels. But do not wear them outside in cold weather, it could be ice that you can not see on the sidewalk. Invest in a pair of snow boots or shoes with influenza soles to help slip.

6

Never jump your influenza shot

You have always been lucky - never had the influenza before. So why take the trouble to have a shot this year? Because chances are not in your favor. Last year, more than 647,000 people were hospitalized and 61,200 meters died due to complications of influenza. The CDC says that everyone over 6 months oldshould have the shot of the flu, with very rare exceptions. Despite contrary pretensions, the influenza vaccine is safe and prevents millions of diseases each year. Influenza viruses evolve quickly, so you have to have a shot each year. And your influenza shot can help keep others in the hospital.

"Influenza is a serious illness," says Dr. Holly Phillips, General Intern Professor in Manhattan and Medical Expert for RxSaver. "Babies, the elderly and people with underlying conditions such as asthma, diabetes or cardiac diseases. Children are even more likely to get influenza than adults, partly, because they go to school where germs spread like a drag. "

RX:Ask your doctor to have an influenza vaccine today. You might also be able to get your vaccine in a local pharmacy or clinic like an appointment walk.

7

Never stop counting your steps

Winter can be difficult. It's dark outdoors when you head to work, and it's dark when you're on the way back. It is much easier to wake up on the sunny side of your bed when the sun is, well, bright. But do not let it turn you into a sofa potato. "The colder weather means that we are less likely to get enough measures and less likely to spend time outdoors," says Amy Chow, RD.

RX: When your fitness tracker says "It's time to stay" - ". You can take a quick walk around the office or find a Zumba class to get your loot tremble and training sessions even in the winter.

8

Stand up all night

A good night's sleep is vital for your health. This is because sleep helps your body to heal and maintains your functioning immune system. Do not have enough sleep is dangerous, not just because you are sleepy and grumpy to your colleagues. When you sleep too little time chronically, you risk more and more risking cancer, cardiovascular disease and other health problems. "Getting eight hours of sleep is very important. This helps strengthen your defense system for your immune system," saysDr. Myles Spar, MD, Chief Medical Health of Vault.

RX: Netflix will always be there tomorrow. Go to bed.

9

Never forget your carbon monoxide detector

Most of us know how to check our smoke alarms, but when you thought the carbon monoxide last time? It is an odorless and colorless gas that can kill you if you breathe it too long in an unvolished environment. The winter is that you should really pay attention to carbon monoxide poisoning because the gas can be released by defective heating systems or gas appliances, and you are less likely to leave Windows open in cold weather. According toCDC, "Every year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional non-fire co-binding, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room and more than 4,000 are hospitalized."

RX: Make sure you have battery carbon monoxide detectors in your home and replace batteries at least twice a year. (A good way to recall is to change them at the time of day savings).

RELATED: 100 ways your home can make you sick

10

Ever eat emotionally

If you have a swanky holiday party to come, do not die all day in anticipation of the frenzy to eat later. It's not good for you in the long run. "Many people have black and white thought to food, where they go on a diet or go all outings," says Amy Chow, Rd. "Emotional diet often revolves around the guilt and shame of the culture of food, and that's where people are most likely to happen. "

RX: Keep sound attraction options and go in hand during the day so you can easily power. "I always keep a reserve ofChompIn the glove compartment for a healthy fast snack and full of protein, "explains Maggie Michalczyk, RDN.

11

Never hide your winter blues

The winter months can be very difficult on people withSeasonal emotional disorder (sad).It is quite normal to feel a little blue in the winter, when the sun shines less and that the cold nights seem to extend forever. But if you notice that sadness is crawling in your daily life and making you depressed, you might meet sad. According to the Mayo Clinic, you may have sad if you have a small energy, you feel most of the time, you have trouble focusing and everything seems to happen during the winter months. Sad seems to be more common in people who live far from the equator, perhaps because of the limited light they get during the winter months.

RX: If you are worried about SAD symptoms, talk to your doctor or therapist right away. Mental health is just as important as physical health. So there is no reason to give an appointment.

12

Ever drive tired

Driving and to the holidays can be exhausted anyone. It might seem like it's not a big problem- "We all do it," you might think - but it can be mortal. According toNational Sleep Foundation, the driving driving is downright dangerous. In fact, drinking driving has almost the same effect on the body as drinking alcohol. Be awake for 18 hours in a row, it is like having an alcohol level of 0.05 (the legal limit is 0.08). Your reaction times will be slowed down, as well as your judgment, not a good mixture on dark and frozen roads.

RX:If you are tired, pull yourself some security for a fast snooze or ask someone else to drive. It is better to be late at the party party than to enter a wreck.

13

Never jump the sink

The simple habit of washing hands can prevent you from getting sick. According to the CDC, the proper hand washing is one of the most important things you can do for your health. This is because fecal materials carry wicked bugs like Norovirus, Salmonella and E. coli that cause a disease. Other germs can spread if you tap a hard surface with unwashed hands, where it can stay alive for a surprising duration. "The flu can survive on hard surfaces such as computer keyboards and handle handle handles for 24 hours, where it is easily picked up by hands that affect the surface," says Dr. Phillips.

RX: Wash your hands with soap and water every time you use the bathroom, andRead these essential adviceTo make sure you do it in my way.

14

NEVER ignore your stress

Everyone treats stress differently. But when your stress becomes uncontrollable, you can feel it in your body, because stress makes your body release adrenaline. If it makes you feel better, you are not alone. According to a 2019 Gallup survey, the Americans are some of the most stressed people on the ground: more than half of the US report being stressed "a lot of day".

RX:If you feelstress,It's time for a quick break. Take a deep breath, go for a walk or watch a nice animal video. But do not ignore the signs of something more serious, talk to your doctor if you really feel out of control.

RELATED: 50 irregular habits on the planet

Soaking in a hot tub is one of the best ways to warm up in the winter-but for some, it can be dangerous.Pregnant womenThat uses a hot tub is twice the risk of miscarriage and the risk increases most often for a dip. You can also obtain a legionnaire disease inhaling bacteria in the vapor of a contaminated bath.

RX: This is probably good for people that most people relax in the hot tub - even people with treatedhypertensionare OK to soak for ten minutes or less.

We understood. You want to stop feeling sick. But antibiotics are not always the answer. They kill only bacteria, so treat a cold with antibiotics will do nothing to make you feel better.

"Most colds are caused by viruses, antibiotics are not an effective treatment option," saysDr. Kelly Bay.

RX: There are effective ways to take care of a cold at home - Check out ourExpert advice.Of course, if things take a turn for the worst, give your doctor a call.

It's winter, so for many of us, being inside, it's just part of the agreement. It's hard to think about going outside when the weather does not cooperate. Nevertheless, try to avoid the big crowds of people in confined spaces if you can help it. "Shopping centers, theaters and airports will always have a lot of viruses and germs," ​​saidDr. Michael Hall."If you find that you can not avoid being around a crowd, wash your hands regularly and try to avoid being around people touching or sneezing."

As it turns out, these pungent bulbs are good for more than cooking meat meat. Garlic has compounds that help the immune system combat germs. A littleto studyshowed that the number of colds was cut almost in half by those who took a daily garlic supplement. "Garlic is a good expectorant to draw the mucus when you're sick," saysDr. Erica Steele.

Recommendation: Why not add a little garlic to your winter menu?Try one of our delicious recipes (and healthy!).

The air tends to be dried in the winter and that you demolish the thermostat instead of opening windows, there is not as much natural moisture inside. This means that you are more likely to have a dry skin. Frigid air exposure can irritate your skin even more, especially on ends like your hands and feet. If your skin starts to crack and bleed, it can lead to infections (not to mention, it really hurts).

RX:According toMayo clinic,You should try to avoid taking long, hot showers and baths because it can dry even more your skin. Use a thick moisturizer like eucerine or cetaphil to create a barrier on your skin to prevent water from escaping. Avoid hard soaps and try a humidifier to add more steam to indoor air. If you see a lot of flocking or thinking that you have a more serious condition, make an appointment to see your doctor.

Drinking enough water is essential to your health, especially in winter. This is because your body must be hydrated to work properly and headaches can come when you are dehydrated. "I find that rest and hydration are half of the battle when I start feeling sick," says practitioner functional medicineThurlow Cynthia, NP."A small extra rest combined with hydration helps hit your cold cold."

RX: Wear a bottle of rechargeable water with you on the move. It's an easy way to stay hydrated when you are at work or shopping. TheMAYO ClinicRecommends approximately 15.5 cups of water for men and 11.5 cups for women every day. If it seems too high a goal, do not let a number stop you - a quantity of water is a good start.

It isultimately Snow-the perfect day to hit the slopes. Do not forget to enter your sunscreen with your skis. According toCDC,Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Just because it's not hot outdoors does not mean that you are not in danger. The snow reflects up to 80% of the sun's rays, then it's like being struck with UV twice. And, the UV exposure increases from 4 to 5% with all 1,000 feet above sea level, so being above a mountain increases your risk of damage to the sun to your skin.

RX: Apply a wide spectrum sun cream with at least SPF 30 to your face before going outside. Reapply every two hours and after intense perspiration of a difficult run. Do not forget your lips - Use a balm with an integrated solar screen. And live your happiest and healthiest life, do not miss these70 things you should never do for your health.