Health

Staying healthy in winter

Healthy hygiene habits

• Regular hand washing
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or inner elbow.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Clean surfaces like phones, door handles, toys, and keyboards.

Eat nutritious food to recover from illness more quickly.

• High in antioxidants
• High in vitamins B, C, D and E
• Low in sugars and fats

Drink plenty of water.

It is easier to neglect hydration when the weather becomes cooler and we think our bodies don’t need more water. However, keeping your body hydrated will help keep your skin healthy, flush out toxins, and ward off winter bugs.

It’s common to feel less motivated during the winter months and even getting out of bed can sometimes feel like a chore.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a condition associated with winter and can be offset by keeping active and maintaining regular contact with others.

We’re lucky to live in WA, as our Mediterranean climate means that while winter is our wettest season, we also enjoy many cool, sunny days.

Try to get into a routine of getting out and doing some exercise, whether it is walking up the stairs instead of taking the lift or escalator, instead, swapping your normal routine by going for a daily walk.

Stay warm and consider others.

Winter can be a tough time for many people in our community.

Winter is a good time to check up on our friends, relatives, and neighbours who may be more vulnerable to cold weather than we are.

Cold weather is especially dangerous for older people and people with pre-existing or chronic health conditions.

People with heart conditions or respiratory (breathing) problems, including children wheezing, may have worse symptoms during a cold spell and for several days after temperatures return to normal.

To keep warm and well during periods of cold weather, you should:

• keep curtains drawn and doors closed to block draughts.
• have regular hot drinks and at least one hot meal a day if possible.
• eating regularly helps keep energy levels up during winter.
• wear several light layers of warm clothes (rather than one chunky layer) and keep as active as possible.

Judy Buckley

College Nurse