5 Common Winter Illness & Ways To Prevent It

Winter is when we all gear up for the festive season and holidays and, above it all, enjoy hot drinks and wear winter clothes as it is the most favorite season of all.   

While we are all excited about winter, we forget the ugly side of it. Winter is also the time for diseases and other health ailments. When we get bogged down with dry skin and daily flu, it ruins our hard-earned vacation plans.   

This is why in this frosty weather; most clinics and hospitals have a more significant number of patients suffering from flu or common cold and other health ailments.  

To avoid seasonal sickness, it is advisable to wear warm clothes and pay attention to what you drink and eat. The other very important factor we always need to work on in the winter season is our immunity.   

A sudden drop in temperature brings health issues such as pneumonia, arthritis, and other health illness.  

Also read: Ways to Strengthen Immunity this Winter 

Ways to Prevent Common Winter Illness  

During the winter, diseases can appear suddenly, leaving you inactive and lazy. Due to cold weather, the body cools down, and even simple illness gets challenging to heal.   

Here is the list of common winter illnesses and ways to prevent and treat them.  

1. Pneumonia  

Pneumonia is one of the infectious lung diseases which is common in the winter season. It is caused due to viral and bacterial infections, which can be mild or severe. The mild one can be treated at home, but in case it gets intense, hospitalization might be required. Pneumonia is usually difficult to detect at the initial stage. However, chills or high fever can be the first symptom of pneumonia.   

Home Remedies to Manage Pneumonia   

• To relieve chest congestion, have a drink of jaggery. To make it, take some jaggery and ½ tsp of pepper and cumin seeds and boil the mixture. As per the Unani system of medicine, jaggery helps expel sputum (phlegm) as it is an effective remedy to relieve cough and chest congestion in pneumonia.
• To relieve respiratory issues, prepare a thyme (ajwain) tea at home. Take 2-4 crushed ajwain leaves and boil them in water. Drink the tea lukewarm and relax the respiratory muscles. Thyme soothes the throat muscles and reduces their swelling.

2. Flu  

Flu is one of the most common winter diseases. It is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the virus influenza'. It can be mild to severe. It is advised to keep yourself clean and washing hands before eating. Also, keep your body warm by covering your ears and wearing socks.  

Some of its common symptoms include; fever, muscle ache, fatigue, sore throat, runny nose, etc.   

Home Remedies to Manage Flu  

• If you haven't ever used Kuka Cough Syrup for flu and all types of coughs, this is a sign for you. Multani Kuka Cough syrup is an Ayurvedic medicine made with natural herbs like tulsi and pipali. It helps on treating rhinitis, cough, and throat pain.
• To cure a common cold and cough, boil 1 tsp of flaxseed until it thickens and strain it. Add a few drops of lime juice and honey to it and consume it. Flaxseed is a very effective remedy to cure a cold and cough.

3. Asthma   

For people living with asthma, winter can be a difficult time. In winter, the risk of flu and cold increases significantly. The cold and dry air and sudden weather shifts can irritate the airways, causing the asthma patient to produce more mucus.  

Home Remedies to Manage Asthma  

• Vasaka, also known as Adulsa in Unani medicine, is a decoction made with 2-4 vaska leaves with 1 tsp graded dry ginger and 1 or 2 pepper, and 1/2 tsp honey. Boil the preparation and drink it lukewarm.

An Unani physician recommends it as a very effective decoction for asthmatic patients.  

4. Arthritis   

Cold weather doesn't cause arthritis but deepens the aches and pains. The frigid temperature slows blood circulation and causes muscle spasms.   

Believe it or not, to matters more complex, our joints can detect and respond to changes in barometric pressure (the amount of air pressure in the atmosphere).  

Home Remedies to Manage Arthritis  

• To reduce swelling and joint pain, use eucalyptus oil. Apply warm oil on the knees and joints. For effective results, you can also cover it up with heat pads.
• To reduce arthritis pain, massage the joints with castor oil (arandi tel) before bedtime.

5. Dry Skin  

Winter brings a host of skin troubles; flaring, itching of eczema, psoriasis, etc. Especially in low humid weather, the skin gets dry. The hot bath flares up irritated skin and causes dryness in winter. Keeping the skin moisturized in winter is crucial. Some of the best remedies for dull and dry skin can be found in the kitchen. 

Home Remedies to Manage Dry Skin  

• For good moisture and to maintain a natural glow, massage almond oil on the face and leave it for some time. As almond oil is extremely beneficial for the skin. Use it daily for radiant and glowing skin.
• The sunflower seed oil also helps to hydrate the skin when used as a moisturizer.

Before applying it on the skin, patch tests it.  

Conclusion

Take care of your health from the beginning of winter and keep your immunity strong. A proper winter diet, yoga, and exercise can help you stay warm and active during winter. Don't let the cold and dull weather make you lazy. A sedentary lifestyle is the leading cause of many diseases. Practicing healthy habits will help lower the chances of getting sick.   

It is essential to take a holistic approach and mental health during winter. HealthyBazar.com has some of the best AYUSH consultants and a whole data of various lifestyle tips and tricks you can implement in your day-to-day life.