How to Stay Warm in Cold Weather: A Doctor's Advice for Health Safety
Doctor Zoya Maksymova from Kyiv provides important recommendations on how to keep warm during the cold season and avoid hypothermia. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining a comfortable temperature in the home, which should not be lower than 18 °C. Prolonged stays in rooms with temperatures below 20 degrees can significantly increase the risk of developing viral respiratory infections, cardiovascular diseases, as well as pathologies of the endocrine and nervous systems.
Recommendations for Keeping Warm
In order to conserve heat, the doctor recommends drinking warm beverages every two hours. This will help maintain an optimal body temperature. Furthermore, appropriate clothing and activity are also important. Maksymova notes:
'Definitely socks, and preferably 2 pairs (cotton + wool)'. Zoya Maksymova, Doctor
This helps to retain warmth, especially in cold weather. She also adds that even minimal movement reduces heat loss, so it is advisable to perform simple physical exercises more often.
Signs of hypothermia to watch for include:
- cold hands and feet;
- pale or mottled skin;
- drowsiness and lethargy;
- shivering or, conversely, complete stillness;
- slowed heartbeat.
If you notice these symptoms, it is important to take measures to raise your body temperature and seek medical assistance if necessary. By following the doctor's recommendations, you can maintain your health and comfort during the cold season.
These tips are especially relevant in the context of increasing health risks during the cold season. Low temperatures can negatively affect physical condition, especially in people with chronic illnesses or weakened immunity. Knowledge of ways to prevent hypothermia can help preserve not only warmth but also health, which is an important aspect of ensuring the overall safety of the population during the winter period.