Autumnwatch - health issues discussed...

The clocks will be going back soon and days are getting shorter; its time to protect ourselves from the winter blues and to keep as well as we can.  Here are a few things to look out for.

Cough and colds
If you suffer from asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) you need to take extra care of yourself at this time of year.  Make sure that you have had your seasonal flu vaccination (readily available at OPMP from 0830-1800 on weekdays). Get regular exercise, eat a balanced healthy diet and make sure you do what you can to have a good sleep pattern.  At the first sign of fever and productive cough seek professional advice.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
SAD is thought to affect up to one in 50 people in the UK with as many as one in eight suffering from the milder form "winter blues". Symptoms of depression most commonly occur between September and November.  It's thought SAD is caused by the lack of sunlight which affects mood-related chemicals in the brain. There also be a link with low vitamin D levels. If you are feeling low, getting poor sleep, overeating or feeling generally unmotivated please speak to us at OPMP.

Chilblains and Raynaud's disease
Raynaud's disease and painful red, itchy lumps of chilblains are both common winter conditions. Most sufferers know that they are both linked to getting cold. So if you are affected make sure that you wear lots of layers to keep warm, and thick gloves and socks to keep your hands and feet warm and to keep the blood circulating.

Dry skin and Eczema
Dry skin and eczema can be made worse by cold, dryness or wind, also heat and being wet - all the conditions we tend to put our bodies through when we go out in the biting cold then rush in and stand in front of the radiator. Your skin suffers all sorts of insults in cold, wet weather and regardless of the cause and moisturising is the mainstay of treatment. Unscented moisturisers are the best and the more often you apply them the better.  Some people advise moisturising skin affected by eczema up to 10 times a day.  It keeps the moisture in your skin and helps prevent eczema flare-ups.

 Best wishes

 Dr Sri

Comments

  1. Sharon Smith28 December 2018 at 10:31

    Informative article, adding a little bit info in your article : There are different types of COPD. Each type may affect how well different treatments work, how your symptoms affect your everyday life, and how they progress. If you have another health condition in addition to COPD (co-morbidity), such as high blood pressure, heart disease, heartburn, depression, or diabetes, this can also affect your COPD and how it is managed.
    Check out COPD Treatment with Stem Cell Therapy
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

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