Oftentimes, when the temperature drops, we may find ourselves spending more time indoors coughing and sneezing. Getting sick is never fun, and can keep us from doing the things we love. So why do the winter months seem to bring about an atmosphere of illness for everyone? You may recall your parents telling you…” Put on a jacket, or you’re going to catch a cold!” But there is be less of a correlation between the actual temperature and our health than you might think. It’s essential to better understand what is triggering your winter illness- whether you continually experience flu symptoms or seasonal allergies. At Centennial Medical Group, our team of medical providers are experienced in diagnosing and treating many general winter illnesses.
Why do I always seem to get sick in the winter?
When cold and flu symptoms begin to creep in, we may tell others we are feeling “under the weather.” The phrase makes a lot of sense when you think about how much we seem to get sick during the winter months. However, its not the actual drop in temperature that’s triggering our symptoms, rather the overall weather condition- including the cold, dry air and the more time we spend indoors exposed to other sick people. Our upper respiratory is lined with membranes that capture bacteria and viruses and prevent germs from reaching your lungs. Breathing in cold and dry air can dry out these membranes’ moisture, thus allowing the germs to reach the lungs much easier.
So while the cold may affect the air that we breath inside our body, it’s not necessarily affecting the outside- meaning a winter jacket won’t fend off the bacteria that we are inhaling. Furthermore, its natural for us to spend more time indoors when the weather drops. Sometimes the snow causes roads to close, or the cold wind is unbearable to face. However, when we are spending more time in closed quarters, the risk of illness increases as we are in close proximity to others that may be experiencing sickness.
Common Winter Illnesses
There are many common illnesses that peak in our communities during the winter months. Understanding what triggers these illnesses, and how you can spot the symptoms will help you find proper treatment. For same-day general illness treatment, come visit us at Centennial Medical. We can help support your overall health and wellness into the winter.
Some common winter illnesses we can diagnose and treat include:
- The Common Cold
- Influenza (flu)
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis / Cough
- Congestion
- Strep Throat
- Sinus Infections
- Seasonal Allergies
Tips to Prevent Illness in the Winter
There are some strategies we can follow to better avoid getting sick this winter. As always, make sure to frequently wash your hands and sanitize hard surfaces where germs can live on for hours at a time. Drink a lot of water throughout the day to help flush out the toxins and keep the membranes in your respiratory system moist. Also- don’t skip your annual flu shot! Flu season carries into the cold winter months and can continue impacting communities through the spring. Plan a trip to Centennial Medical Center to receive your flu shot today and see our medical professionals about additional ways you can prevent illness as the weather changes- no appointment necessary!