Effects of Cold Weather on Your Health

Although we’ve seen a mild winter so far, we all knew it was just a matter of time before the warm summer-like days were over. Enter, 2016. Temperatures have already dropped in the first days of the New Year, and as such the potential for cold-weather related health issues increase dramatically. The temperature drop puts the elderly, and those in poor health especially at risk.  But regardless of if you consider yourself as at risk or healthy, you should always try to be prepared as best you can to brace the freezing temps outside.  

Cold weather can affect your immune system, your heart, your skin, lungs and body temperature.  First and foremost we tend to congregate indoors more when outside temps drop below freezing.  This means more germs that are more easily spread. This increases everyone’s risk of getting sick, whether it be the flu or a common cold, so be mindful, get your flu shot and wash your hands frequently. Second, cold weather can increase risk of heart attack by narrowing the blood vessels. Keeping your body insulated can help with this, however if you know you are at risk for heart related complications you should avoid strenuous activity in the cold. Third, the cold weather will dry out your skin and leave it worn and cracked.  To protect your body and your skin, moisturize and keep it covered. Furthermore, anyone who suffers from asthma will find the cold weather and air aggravates this condition making it important to keep your face covered and breath in moist air when possible.

Our first line of defense against cold weather is dressing properly when going outside. This means, dress warmly and pay particular attention to your extremities like hands, feet and head.  The body tries to keep the essential organs warm, and core temperature up by shunting blood away from the extremities and towards the center of the body. This is why we see more cases of hypothermia, especially in the elderly, as the temperatures get colder and affects our internal temperature. Being outside without the proper gear, especially for prolonged periods of time, can mean muscle tears or sprains, frostbite and even permanent nerve damage.

In accordance to all these health dangers, Gov. Cuomo has ordered to get homeless people off the streets and move them to shelters when the temperature is drops below freezing or 32 degrees. This mandate is set to go into effect today, when temperatures are expected to fall into the low 30s.  New York City is, and has been, a “right to shelter” city since the 1970’s. This means that anyone who needs or wants shelter has a legal right to it.  The governor is taking things a bit further with this new mandate, which might be a good thing.  The homeless are particularly vulnerable in the winter, and being left out in the cold without shoes, gloves, a coat or other winter essentials could be life and death for many.