Top Ways to Prevent Winter Cold & Joint Pains

Winter is uncomfortable. However, the fact that it also brings along the problems of cough & cold and joint pains is something that makes the season even more troublesome for some people.

Fortunately, there are many easy ways to minimize both the problems, especially when the symptoms are diagnosed early, which are:

Cough and Cold: a sore throat, nasal congestion, fatigue, low-grade fever, frequent sneezing, etc.

Joint Pains: Joint swelling, joint pain, fatigue, joint stiffness, joint redness, loss of joint range of motion, joint inflammation, etc.

Prevention Tips for Cough & Cold

  • Keeping warm is extremely important to keep cold at bay. In fact, one of the most common ways people catch cold is because of not wearing appropriate clothing for the weather.
  • Since cold is caused by infection, it’s important to wash hands as frequently as possible.
  • Hydration is another thing that can greatly help in the prevention of cold. In fact, it’s one of the most common recommendations given by the doctors for the same.
  • Studies have found that lack of sleep can make a person more vulnerable to infection. Thus, plentiful sleep is necessary.
  • It’s natural to detest the idea of exercising when it’s cold outside. However, lack of physical activity is also another major contributor to cough & cold which must be taken

Foods That Help Against Cold

Certain foods can help fight cold during the winters. These include:

  • Garlic: It is rich in potassium, calcium, and sulfuric compounds that can fight bacterial infections.
  • Yogurt: Yogurt is rich in probiotics which increase the body’s resistance to
  • Turmeric: Turmeric is used in a variety of herbal medications and home remedies across India for its antioxidant properties which are also helpful for fighting the cold.
  • Funnel: Consumption of funnel in small amounts on a regular basis can increase body’s resistance to cough & cold.

Treating Arthritis and Joint Pains

Many of the things that are helpful for the prevention of cold, viz. keeping warm, staying hydrated, and exercising, are also helpful in alleviating joint pains. Other examples are:

  • According to a report, Vitamin D may play a big role in how sensitive a person is to arthritis pain. So, consuming Vitamin D-rich foods can help.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, consumption of foods that are rich in these can help reduce the joint pain. These include soybeans, walnuts, sardines, etc.
  • If the joint pain is severe, then an exercise therapy, as per the advice of a physical therapist, can bring it down over a short period.
  • While a warm blanket can help lower arthritis pain, a heated mattress pad is even better. This is because its heat level can be controlled and adjusted to a moderate level, unlike blankets which can be excessively warm and defeat their purpose.

Tips for Cold Weather Exercise with Arthritis

The following are some useful and practical tips on working out in winter to alleviate the symptoms of joint pain and cold:

  • Rather than working out outdoors, a person can exercise inside their house as well.
  • Although warming up may seem unnecessary, it’s important to avoid injury. That said, a simple motion of taking the hands up and down for about 10 minutes is sufficient.
  • There are many simple yet effective exercises to choose from- taking the stairs for 15 minutes, walking inside the house, stretching hands and legs for 15-20 minutes, etc.

Eating the right foods and exercising regularly can keep the problems of cold and joint pain etc. away to a large extent. However, when the problem is more serious, then a person may also need medication like Rhumoril (for joint pain) or Ocecough (for cough & cold) for relief.

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