Colds and chronic illnesses

Colds and chronic illnesses often go hand in hand. We often think of colds and coughs when winter comes. But what about those people with colds who have chronic illnesses? Colds affect at least one billion people in the United States each year. However, if you suffer from a chronic illness such as diabetes, heart disease, or asthma, colds can lead to potentially deadly complications.

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Asthma and colds

Asthma is a chronic condition that inflames the airways and lungs so much that they become too narrow, making it difficult for a person to breathe. Cold air also causes the airways to narrow, and this can create additional difficulties for people with asthma.

Winter is the season for colds and flu, but it is also the season when people spend more time indoors. Colds and flu can make asthma symptoms worse. If a person with asthma spends more time indoors, dust, allergens, and dry air can cause more frequent asthma attacks.

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Arthritis and colds

Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints, which can make it difficult for a person to move. Although there is currently no scientific evidence that arthritis gets worse in cold weather, many people tell their doctors that their arthritis feels worse in the winter.

In addition, we are all generally less active in the winter. Low physical activity makes the joints of people with arthritis less flexible, making them even stiffer and more painful. Finally, colds and flu can make a person with arthritis feel worse.

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Diabetes and the common cold

Diabetes is a chronic disease. If left untreated, high levels of sugar will accumulate in a person's blood, which can negatively affect all other organs and systems.

Cold weather can very often cause changes in a person's blood sugar levels. Winter weather can make everyone less active, but it is especially important to consider for people with diabetes. Like other chronic diseases, a cold can make a person's condition worse - making diabetes even more difficult to manage.

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How to help people with chronic diseases when they have a cold?

Although asthma, arthritis, and diabetes are very different chronic conditions, there are common strategies that can be used to help people protect themselves from the effects of winter. These include staying active, staying warm, eating a healthy diet, and drinking plenty of warm fluids.

The following tips can help protect people diagnosed with asthma, arthritis, or diabetes.

• Stay active as much as you can and feel (this will also help people who experience seasonal anxiety and depression in the winter)
• Keep your feet warm and dress appropriately for the weather (especially when going outside)
• Stay healthy by avoiding catching a cold or flu
• Active lifestyle for people with chronic diseases

Staying active throughout the winter can be quite challenging because in cold and damp weather, everyone will want to stay indoors, somewhere warm.

Try to keep your energy levels high during the coldest months. That's what gyms are for. That means finding new ways to exercise in the gym, indoors. Winter activity methods include:

• Walking in shopping malls.
• Using stairs instead of an elevator.
• Doing simple exercises while watching TV.
• The simplest yoga or other classes at the nearest recreation center.
• House cleaning, including washing floors by hand, which takes up quite a lot of energy.

Dress for the season

Even if the weather is very cold in winter, it is very important to breathe fresh air often. Such people just need to wear the right type of clothing, such as a hat, gloves, thick socks and waterproof boots if necessary. Here is the best way for people with colds and chronic diseases to dress properly in winter.

1. You need to protect your face from the cold with a scarf, your hands with gloves, and your body with warm clothes.
2. During the winter months, it is very important not to overload your body with heavy and bulky clothing, as excessive sweating can cause hypothermia.
3. In winter, you need to dress in several layers of clothing - such clothes will be easy to model. In addition, several layers of clothing will provide excellent air circulation.
4. In winter, it is necessary to wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the season and change them immediately if they get wet, which often happens during snow or rain.

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How should people with colds and chronic diseases be treated?

People with colds and chronic diseases should support themselves with regular medication and medical check-ups.

It is a good idea for family and friends to help people with arthritis do simple tasks that are most painful for them when they are alone. For example, it is a good idea to help them lift heavy objects or put something on a high shelf.

People with diabetes need to be offered healthy alternatives to sweet medicines - many of them are made with a lot of sugar. Sugar substitutes should definitely be in the home of such people. Especially when they have a cold.

People with asthma should definitely wear inhalers when they have a cold, in case their condition gets worse, which often happens with viral illnesses.

By paying special attention to the effects of winter colds and chronic diseases, we need to help ourselves stay happy and healthy!