There is a reason that winter is not people’s favorite season except for avid skiers, and even for those who prefer the cooler months over summer, winter is not their favorite season.
There are some good reasons as to how that is the case. That is because there are seven things that can happen to your body during the winter that does not happen at any other time. Let’s go over those right now.
Increases Your Blood Pressure And Chances Of A Heart Attack
The cold weather causes your blood vessels to constrict which impedes the easy flow of your blood circulating. When your blood vessels are constricted, then that increases your blood pressure. And when your blood pressure is up, that increases your chances of heart disease, and the odds of a heart attack increase as well.
Inflammation
The other thing that the cold weather does is cause joint and muscle inflammation due to the significantly lower temperatures. That is why you may feel plenty of pain when you move your joints and muscles as they are inflamed as the result of the cold weather causing restrictions and then when you get to warmer indoor temperatures, your joints and muscles expand again due to the warmth. That will cause inflammation.
Dry Skin
There is less moisture in the air, therefore, you will end up having dry skin and potentially skin disorders such as eczema during the winter. The best thing you can really do is apply moisturizing cream on your skin regularly during the cold and dry winter months.
This can also be a significant issue if you have naturally dry skin and you will end up dealing with cracked skin often. That is also why it is important to use moisturizer during the winter months, especially.
Your Hair Falls Out More
The cold air makes your hair drier and more brittle, and even though shedding is normal, it happens a lot more during the winter. The best thing you can do for your hair is to use moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to keep your hair in the best condition possible. That will help reduce the chances of your hair falling out more than usual.
You Struggle To Breathe
The cold air is dry which is why it can cause you to have difficulty breathing. And for those who have conditions such as asthma, COPD, or chronic bronchitis will struggle the most when it comes to breathing. The other thing that it can do is cause more fluid build-up in the lungs which can also lead to more breathing difficulties. That means always make sure there is an inhaler to use when that happens.
You Can Develop Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD happens during the winter months which causes a decrease in serotonin levels. This causes depression and you will end up finding yourself having less motivation to do things, as well as having the desire to overeat, and weight gain happen as a result. You will have the urge to withdraw from socializing as well, and this is a real challenge for those who struggle with mental health issues such as depression.
The best thing to do to combat SAD is to get a SAD lamp as it helps keep serotonin levels up. In addition to that, you want to make sure that you keep engaging in the hobbies and interests you have so you keep your mental health up to par.
Hypersomnia
Can SAD cause you to oversleep? The fact of the matter is because it is so dark out often, your melatonin levels are higher as your serotonin levels are lower. That will cause oversleeping and if you wonder why you need to sleep over 10 hours each night, that is why. However, you don’t want to sleep too much. That will end up making SAD symptoms worse. It is best to force yourself to wake up at the time you normally wake up and get yourself busy by doing something productive.
Winter is a difficult time of year and this is why people want to move to warmer climates to get away from that. However, it is not always possible to do if circumstances don’t allow it such as family commitments and finances. That is why it will require more work to make the best of winter but you can do it if you must due to having to stay in a colder climate.