Colds and chronic diseases

Colds and chronic diseases often go hand in hand. We often think of colds and coughs when it comes to winter. But what about those people with colds who are sick with chronic diseases? The common cold is affected by 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, a cold can lead to potentially fatal complications.

[1], [2], [3], [4]

Asthma and colds

Asthma is a chronic disease that so inflames the airways and lungs, that they become too narrow, and it makes it difficult for a person to breathe. Cold air also causes narrowing of the airways, and this can create additional difficulties for people suffering from asthma.

Winter is a season of colds and flu, but also a season during which people spend more time indoors. A cold or flu can make asthma symptoms more severe. If a person with asthma spends more time indoors, dust, allergens and overdried air can cause more frequent asthma attacks.

[5], [6], [7], [8], [9]

Arthritis and colds

Arthritis is a chronic disease that causes pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints, because of which it can be difficult for a person to move. Although today there is no scientific evidence that during cold weather the course of arthritis worsens, many people tell doctors that with arthritis they feel worse precisely in the winter.

In addition, all of us, as a rule, are less active during the winter. Low physical activity worsens the elasticity of the joints of people with arthritis, they become even tougher and even more painful. Finally, a cold and flu can make a person with a diagnosis of "arthritis" feel worse.

[10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16]

Diabetes and colds

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease. If left untreated, a high level of sugar will accumulate in the blood of a person , and this can negatively affect all other organs and systems.

Cold weather very often can lead to a change in the level of sugar in the blood of a person. Winter weather can make everyone less active, but it is especially important to take into account people with diabetes. Like other chronic diseases, a cold can aggravate a person's condition - diabetes is even more difficult to manage.

[17], [18], [19], [20]

How to help people with chronic diseases with a cold?

Although asthma, arthritis and diabetes are very different chronic diseases, there are general strategies that can be used to help people protect themselves from the effects of winter. First of all, it's activity, warmth and healthy diet, as well as a lot of warm drinking.

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

• Stay active to the best of your own strength and well-being (this will also help people who feel seasonal anxiety and depression in the winter)
• Keep your feet warm, and also dress according to the weather (especially when you go out for a walk on the street)
• Stay healthy, avoiding catching a cold or flu
• Active lifestyle for people with chronic diseases

Staying active throughout the winter is quite difficult, because in cold and wet weather, any person will necessarily want to stay inside the room, somewhere in the heat.

Try to keep your energy at a high level in the coldest months. For this, there are gyms. This means that you must find new ways to exercise in the gym, indoors. Methods of activity in winter can be:

• Walking in shopping centers.
• Use the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Perform simple exercises while watching TV.
• The most simple yoga or other activities in the nearest recreation center.
• Home cleaning, while washing the floors with your hands, which take quite a lot of energy.

Dress for the season

Even if the weather in winter is very cold, it is very important to breathe more fresh rest. Such people simply need to wear the right type of clothing, for example, a cap, gloves, thick socks and waterproof boots, if necessary. That's the best way for people with colds and chronic diseases to dress properly in the winter.

1. You need to protect your face from the cold with a scarf, hands with gloves, and the body with warm clothes.
2. In the winter months it is very important not to overload your body with heavy and heavy clothing, as increased sweating can supercool the body.
3. In winter, you need to dress in several layers of clothing - these clothes will be easy to model. In addition, several layers of clothing will ensure an excellent air circulation.
4. In winter it is necessary to wear shoes and clothes appropriate to the season and immediately change them if they get wet, which is often the case with snow or rain.

How to treat people with colds and chronic diseases?

People with colds and chronic diseases should support themselves through regular medication and medical examinations.

Relatives and relatives should help people with arthritis to do simple tasks that are most painful for them when they are alone. For example, it is advisable to help them lift heavy objects or put something on a high shelf.

People with diabetes need to offer healthy alternatives to sweet drugs - many of them are made with a lot of sugar. Sweet substitutes must be in the house of such people. Especially with a cold.

People with asthma should always wear inhalers in case of cold if they become worse, which is often the case with viral diseases.

Paying special attention to the effects of winter colds and chronic diseases, you need to help yourself to remain happy and healthy!