Cold Wave In India: Know How Extreme Cold Conditions Impacts Your Health

Extreme cold weather adds significant stress on the body. If you don't take necessary precautions, it can lead to serious health issues like heart attack, stroke, and respiratory problems, among others.

  

A cold wave has been sweeping through parts of central and north India. Delhi-NCR and cities across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and other states have been witnessing sharp drop in mercury levels. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), has issued "severe cold wave" alerts for several states. On Sunday, Ayanagar in Delhi recorded the lowest temperature of 2.9 degrees Celsius. Palam station recorded a minimum temperature of 3 degrees Celsius. Reports suggest that temperatures in some regions might drop to as low as two degrees Celsius.

Extreme cold weather adds significant stress on the body. If you don't take necessary precautions, it can lead to serious health issues like heart attack, stroke, and respiratory problems, among others. Here, take a look at what happens to your body during extreme cold weather conditions.

1. Hypothermia Risk

Hypothermia happens when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it. This causes your core temperature to drop below 95 degrees Farhenheit (35 degrees Celsius). In extreme cold, this starts with severe shivering as muscles contract to generate warmth. However, prolonged exposure leads to confusion, slow breathing, and loss of coordination because the brain and organs can't function properly. Vulnerable groups like the elderly, children, and those with poor circulation face higher risks, and without quick warming, it can lead to heart failure or death.

2. Heart Strain

Cold makes blood vessels to narrow (vasoconstriction), forcing the heart to pump harder and faster to keep blood flowing to vital organs. This increases blood pressure and heart rate, adding extra workload on the heart and increasing heart attack risk. Blood also thickens slightly, causing clots that can block arteries. This can be especially risky for people with existing heart disease.

3. Respiratory Problems

Freezing air dries out and irritates the airways. This causes the lungs' protective mucous to thicken and trap less debris. Those with asthma or COPD may experience tighter airways, leading to wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Healthy people, on the other hand, may catch more colds or flu due to inflamed nasal passages.

4. Frostbite and Skin Damage

Exposed skin freezes in minutes during extremely cold weather, starting with numbness and white patches as ice crystals form in tissues. Frostbite cuts blood flow to extremities like fingers, toes, ears, and nose, causing pain, blisters, and potential amputation if untreated. People might also have itchy, red swellings from repeated cold on cheeks or hands.

5. Stroke Risks

Narrowed vessels reduce brain blood flow, while thickened blood increases risk of clot. This eventually doubles the chances of stroke during extreme cold conditions. Hypothermia slows brain signals, causing drowsiness, poor judgment, and slurred speech, which worsens fall risks on icy surfaces. Shivering adds stress, increasing blood pressure and straining already weakened vessels.

6. Muscle and Joint Stiffness

Cold tends to slow down muscle metabolism and joint fluid circulation. This makes movements stiff and painful, causing achy knees or back during winter. It also increases slip-and-fall injuries, especially for older adults. Reduced activity from discomfort also leads to weight gain and weaker muscles over time, creating a cycle of poor mobility.

7. Immune System Weakens

Chronic cold exposure diverts energy from immunity to heat production, making you prone to infections like bronchitis or pneumonia. Dry indoor heat from staying inside cracks skin and mucous membranes, which become entry points for germs. Along with this, less outdoor time reduces vitamin D from sunlight, slowing wound healing.

 

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Arthritis: 10 Effective Ways to Manage Winter Flareups

It’s common for people who suffer from arthritis to experience worsening symptoms as the weather turns wintry and cold. If this speaks to you, and you or a family member is experiencing more flare-ups, more pain, and more stiffness during winter, here are 10 helpful strategies to ease the pain and soothe your joints. Some of these methods will bring instant relief, while others are aimed more at long-term management and prevention.

How can cold weather aggravate arthritis?

We all know someone who swears they can predict shifts in weather by the pain in their joints. This phenomenon is no figment of their imagination. In fact, the Arthritis Foundation states that cold temperatures can seriously affect symptoms of arthritis. 

 

Stiff and aching joints are a common predictor of cold weather, but researchers aren’t certain about the underlying cause of such flare-ups. According to one theory, it’s high humidity – especially in cold weather – that can worsen pain in older adults with osteoarthritis.  

 

Another hypothesis states that any extreme change in temperature can aggravate symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in older adults with the condition. "Our joints operate best in temperate weather," stated Dr. Mariko L. Ishimori, a rheumatologist at Cedars-Sinai. "When the weather gets cooler, the synovial fluid that acts like motor oil in our joints becomes more like sludge," she continued in the medical center’s blog.

Pain is not the only symptom made worse by winter weather. The cold contracts blood vessels and slows down blood circulation, and this, in turn, can lead to a spike in inflammatory compounds. As a result, a person with arthritis may experience more swelling, stiffness, and weakness in the joints than usual in cold weather. 

 

The following lifestyle changes can greatly reduce or even completely prevent arthritic pain in the winter.  

 

1. Wrap up warmly throughout the winter

One of the primary ways to reduce symptoms of arthritis in the winter is to keep joints warm. Don’t wait until you’re already feeling cold. Instead, be prepared by dressing in several warm layers to prevent getting cold altogether. This applies both indoors and outdoors. 

 

As a general rule, 2-3 thin layers provide more warmth than a single thick layer. It is also infinitely customizable, as it allows you to remove one layer when going indoors and still be warm, for example. Bundle up in a fuzzy blanket or use heating pads and room heaters when you’re at home. 

 

When you’re preparing to go outdoors, don’t forget to wear warm socks, a hat, gloves, a scarf, and a warm overcoat. The focus should always be on the areas affected by arthritis: usually the hands, knees, and legs. In cold climates, that may mean wearing two layers of gloves and socks, tights, and knee warmers.

2. Choose the right footwear

The human body loses most heat through the head, feet, and hands. Hence, wearing the right shoes in the winter is extremely helpful for everyone – not just people with arthritis. That being said, arthritis sufferers ought to pay even more attention to the footwear they choose for winter, as the legs and feet are often their biggest problem areas. 

 

 

Your shoes should serve three equally critical functions: 

 

 They must have a strong grip to prevent falls – non-skid soles are the most reliable. 

 

There should be enough lining to keep the feet warm. 

 

They should be waterproof to keep your feet dry.

 

It’s also better if your winter boots are lightweight and have proper ankle support. Pull-on boots are the easiest to put on and take off. The Canadian Arthritis Society also recommends replacing the tips on a cane or a walker if you use it as a mobility aid.  

 

3. Opt for indoor exercise

Physical activity is a must for managing arthritic pain all year round, as regular exercise is scientifically proven to reduce joint pain. However, staying active can be more challenging in the wintertime, especially if your exercise of choice is of the outdoorsy kind. 

 

At subzero temperatures, it is recommended that you spend less time outside altogether if you have arthritis. In place of your usual exercise routine, opt for indoor activities. The simplest option would be gentle stretching. You could follow an arthritis-friendly yoga routine, or do simple exercises, like bending and straightening the knees, stretching your shoulders, or rolling the wrists. These types of exercises relax the muscles and reduce joint stiffness. 

 

However, any other activity – be it walking on a treadmill or vacuuming the house – will be beneficial too.

4. Hydrotherapy

Warm water is the easiest way to reduce joint pain brought about by low temperatures. Hot water bottles are a portable option. When your joints feel tender and painful, fill the bottle with hot water, and then hold it over the joints. 

 

In addition, the Arthritis Foundation recommends taking a warm bath with or without Epsom salt to warm up the body after a day spent in the cold. Just make sure that you let your body temperature normalize before you go outdoors.  

 

If you’d like to do even more than that, try swimming in a heated pool. Hydrotherapy, or the use of warm water for pain relief and treatment, soothes the joints and increases their mobility. To get the most out of your trips to the pool, you can do gentle movements and exercises while you’re in the water. Your doctor or psychotherapist will be able to recommend the most appropriate sequence of water exercises for you. 

 

5. Indulge in a massage

Are warm baths and swimming lessons not your jam? Another pleasant way to reduce arthritis pain is through a weekly massage. Since a lot of pain is caused by muscle spasms that pull at the joint, relaxing the stiff muscles with the help of a therapeutic massage can help soothe the pain. 

 

According to a 2015 research article, an hour-long massage every week for two months can significantly reduce arthritis pain.

 

6. Stay safe outdoors

Folks with arthritis should take extra precautions to stay safe outside in the winter. Many people with arthritis have an altered perception of the cold due to reduced circulation or nerve issues. For this reason, they have a higher risk of the following: 

 

Hypothermia – a life-threatening condition when someone is exposed to low temperatures and this causes one’s body temperature to fall below 95°F (35°C). Confusion, a weak pulse, shallow breathing, slurred speech, and loss of consciousness are all signs of hypothermia. A person experiencing hypothermia needs urgent medical attention.

 

Frostbite – the freezing of skin tissue when the body is exposed to extremely cold weather. The skin may be covered in blisters, and the fingers, toes, and nose may look blue or black. The affected skin areas may also lose sensation. Frostbites are also a medical emergency. 

 

Frozen fingers – the fingers are covered with red spots and look swollen after being exposed to extremely low temperatures. This is not an emergency, but it can be extremely painful, especially for folks with arthritis. To speed up the recovery, move the person indoors and dip their fingers in lukewarm water. Do NOT use warm or hot water, and don’t let the affected person rub their fingers. 

 

All of these conditions are serious to potentially life-threatening, so please take care and avoid spending too much time outdoors, especially if you have arthritis.

7. Be super careful when you shovel snow

If you have any joint issues, every attempt at removing ice and snow becomes a game of Russian roulette. You may do just fine, or you may get injured. There’s also the increased risk of falls and heart attacks, which is a huge concern for anyone but especially people with arthritis. Therefore, it’s best if someone helps you with this task instead.  

 

However, this is not always possible, and some people must do the snow-blowing or shoveling on their own. Remember, this is a strenuous activity that should not be taken lightly. Wear protective clothing and shoes with extra grip, and take frequent breaks when you have to clear the path.

 

8. Create a safe environment at home

Stiff and achy joints and muscles increase one’s risk of falling. If you’re prone to winter flare-ups of arthritis, it’s paramount to remove all home hazards. To avoid injuring yourself at home, consider the following adjustments: 

 

Clear the floor of tripping and slipping risks, including cords, slippery tiles, small objects, and skidding rugs and runners. Alternatively, you can secure all the floor coverings with rubber backing. 

 

Place items that are frequently used in easy-to-reach places. 

 

Don’t move in a rush – rushing is a major cause of falls. Develop the habit of moving mindfully and slowing down if you see yourself rushing somewhere. 

 

Sit down when you’re putting on clothes and shoes. 

 

Install mobility aids, such as grab bars in the bathroom and a railing near the bed. 

 

Make sure that all the areas in your home and yard paths are well-lit, and everything, including the floor, is easily visible. 

 

9. Drink plenty of water

Even though it may sound unrelated at first, drinking water can also have a beneficial effect on your joints. When we are dehydrated, we are more sensitive to the perception of pain – says a research paper from 2015. Thus, consuming more water can help you reduce pain and be healthier overall. 

 

That being said, it’s quite common to reduce one’s fluid intake in the winter. If you struggle with drinking enough water in the colder months, consider herbal teas or flavored water with ginger, lemon, or other fruits. 

 

10. Get your diet right

We’re all feeling the aftermath of the holidays on our bodies. Folks with rheumatoid arthritis, in particular, are prone to flare-ups when they’re a bit too heavy-handed with the holiday menu. 

 

Heavy and sweet foods and beverages, such as cakes and pastries, processed meats, alcohol, and sauces are the main culprits. These foods have been shown in studies to increase the levels of inflammation in the body.

 

If you know that your joints are stiffer and achier during wintertime, focus on maintaining a balanced diet. Try to include plenty of fruits, vegetables, fish, yogurt, and eggs in your diet every day. 

 

The specific nutrients beneficial for arthritis are: 

 

Vitamin D: Low levels of this vitamin make you more sensitive to joint pain, says a 2015 study. When you reach the age of 60, increasing your intake of vitamin D is a must, as it also reduces the risk of osteoporosis. Since sunlight may be more scarce in the winter, eat more foods containing this vitamin, such as fatty fish, liver, and fortified foods. 

 

Vitamin B12 lowers homocysteine levels. This is an amino acid associated with inflammation and an increased risk of cardiovascular issues. People with rheumatoid arthritis have higher levels of it than the general population. Foods that contain B12 are fish, eggs, beef, and yogurt. 

 

Vitamin B6 reduces inflammation. A study from 2003 found that rheumatoid arthritis patients tend to have lower levels of this vitamin. Spinach, bananas, carrots, and sweet potatoes all provide this vitamin. 

 

Omega 3 fatty acids help lower inflammation and swelling in the joints. Fatty fish, avocados, soy, beans, nuts, and seeds will help you boost levels of this nutrient.

At what point should you seek medical help?

Since arthritis is a chronic condition that you’re likely already treating, it may be tough to know when it’s time to reach out to a professional for help. If you’re experiencing a winter flareup, and the arthritis pain is becoming unmanageable, seek professional help. A doctor will be able to prescribe any necessary supplements, pain medication, physiotherapy, and additional lifestyle changes to reduce your symptoms and prevent complications. 

 

Do not hesitate to seek outside help whenever you need it – be it from your family and close circle or a medical professional.

8 Ways Aloe Vera Gel Can Benefit Your Skin, According to Dermatologists

 

When you skimp on the sunscreen (unintentionally, of course) and end up with a monster sunburn, chances are you turn to aloe vera gel to soothe your scorched skin. Because it brings so much relief during the healing process—almost like a gooey superhero—you’ve probably wondered what else aloe vera gel is capable of.

“Aloe vera is a cactus-like plant known for its healing and medicinal properties,” says Joel Schlessinger, M.D., Omaha-based board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon. “Its stems store water, creating a clear, gel-like substance in the leaves, which contains vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, and amino acids.” The gel from aloe has been used throughout history to treat a variety of skin conditions, such as burns, frostbite, psoriasis, and cold sores, research shows.

So does all the hype surrounding aloe vera gel mean you should make it a permanent fixture in your skin care routine? While research is currently limited on the benefits of aloe vera gel specifically, it does contain many well-studied vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins C and E, leading experts to believe that it may offer an assist to the products already in your arsenal.

Curious about its uses? Read on to discover all of the skin-saving benefits of aloe vera.

What is Aloe Vera Gel, Exactly?

Each triangular leaf of the aloe vera plant is composed of three layers, with the innermost layer containing a clear gel that’s made up of 99% water and roughly 75 potentially active ingredients, according to a review published in the International Journal of Research and Medical Sciences. The inner leaf juice is removed from the rind, either by machine or hand, and is cold-pressed to keep the active ingredients, well, active.

When it comes to solving specific skin issues, there’s not a lot of conclusive evidence on aloe vera’s efficacy, but “the biochemistry of aloe vera does have some anti-viral, anti-fungal, and cell-regenerative properties, so applying it to the skin in addition to other medications or remedies may prove to be helpful,” says Dr. Schlessinger.

What makes aloe vera gel so tricky to study is the fact that it contains oodles of promising ingredients that can improve the skin—so many, that it’s hard to hone in on the exact compounds and mechanisms involved. Plus, each study uses its own aloe vera composition, making it difficult to compare and contrast the research that’s completed.

But even though aloe vera gel won’t correct your skin issues on its own, when used in conjunction with other products, it may help speed the process along.

The Skincare Benefits of Aloe Vera

Soothe sunburn

Aloe vera gel contains compounds called polysaccharides that encourage skin repair and new skin cells to set up shop, says Kenneth Mark, M.D., New York-based board-certified dermatologist and Mohs skin cancer surgeon. The gel also contains a pain reliever called carboxypeptidase, which may be why aloe vera is so soothing.

Relieve skin irritation

Inflammation underlies many skin conditions (think: psoriasis, eczema, and lichen planus), says Jennifer Gordon, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas. Aloe vera gel contains compounds, such as acemannan, that suppress inflammation by showing the enzymes that trigger it who’s boss. (Make sure to do a patch test before putting it on inflamed skin, as aloe vera can cause allergic contact dermatitis in some people.)

Add moisture

Because aloe vera gel is mostly water, it helps to hydrate the skin without that post-application greasy feeling, says Dr. Schlessinger. It helps lock moisture into the skin, while also acting as a glue that makes the top layer of skin cells stick together, ultimately smoothing and softening your skin.

Fight acne

Besides having serious antibacterial skills, aloe vera gel contains salicylic acid, which is an exfoliant that helps to unclog pores, making it especially helpful if you deal with pimples and blackheads. Bonus: It also acts as an anti-inflammatory on the oil glands that cause acne, says Dr. Mark.

Treat cold sores

“Aloe vera is an antiseptic, containing six agents known to help inhibit fungi, bacteria, and viruses, including salicylic acid, phenols, and sulfur,” says David Lortscher, M.D., California-based board-certified dermatologist and CEO of Curology. It may help speed up the healing process too, by creating antibodies the immune system can use to fight the cold sore virus.

Slow signs of aging

Aloe stimulates fibroblast activity, says Dr. Mark, which creates an uptick in collagen production and elastin fibers that make the skin less wrinkled and more elastic. Meanwhile, zinc acts as an astringent to tighten pores, and antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, help prevent the formation of free radicals (aka, molecules that can do a number on your cells).

Prevent (and maybe even fade) dark spots

Aloe vera gel prevents tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for skin discoloration, from doing its thing, essentially suppressing UV-induced hyperpigmentation and the skin-damaging effects of sunburns, says Dr. Gordon. This mechanism may also help in the prevention of dark spots, while the various antioxidants it contains (such as glutathione peroxide) may fade sun damage that’s already formed.

Lightly exfoliate

The salicylic acid aloe vera contains acts as an exfoliator, helping to gently slough off dead skin cells, says Dr. Mark. It also contains lignin, a substance which can enhance the penetrative effect of other ingredients into the skin.

How to Choose the Best Aloe Vera Gel

Keep these tips from dermatologists in mind before you commit to a bottle of aloe.

The higher the percentage, the better.

“Purest aloe is always best, without anything added, such as other ingredients to supposedly make it ‘better,’” says New York-based board-certified dermatologist Gary Goldenberg, M.D.

Dr. Gordon agrees: “If the percentage of aloe vera is low, that means it contains many other additives, such as thickeners, preservatives, colors, and fragrance.”

These additional (and unnecessary) ingredients may make the aloe vera less effective. Although some preservation is necessary—hence why there’s no such thing as 100% aloe vera gel—try to find one that has the least number of ingredients, and the highest percentage of aloe vera.

Watch out for tricky wording.

When the label says “100 percent gel,” that means that it’s pure gel, not pure aloe vera. Always make sure the label reads something like, “99 percent pure aloe vera,” or make sure that aloe vera is first on the ingredients list—the more ingredients that come before aloe on the list, the less aloe is in the product.

Check the expiration date.

“To be sold in many outlets, often there must be some type of preservative to extend shelf-life and protect from microbes,” says Dr. Gordon, but aloe vera gels that are labeled as having a shorter shelf-life might mean a cleaner product.

Avoid aloe vera gels that contain alcohol, fragrance, and color.

Alcohol denat and cetyl alcohol, for example, can be irritating to the skin, says Dr. Lortscher. The same goes for fragrance, even those from essential or natural oils, which are often a culprit of contact dermatitis. Finally, aloe vera should be clear—there’s no reason for it to be green.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement