Winter Survival Tips

          


Better safe than sorry. When the snow, ice and frigid weather blast into town, be careful! Winter recreational activities and chores can pose problems for the outdoor enthusiast whose body is not in condition but weekend warriors are not the only people at risk. People with lung and heart disease must take special care during the winter and everybody must walk more carefully to avoid slip and fall injuries.

1. Clothing - When you go outside, make sure to wear layers of warm clothes. Layers of clothing helps trap the heat in and keep you warm.

2. Frostbite - When the temperatures get extreme, dont stay outside to long. In order to conserve the bodys heat, the blood supply to the arms and legs is reduced thereby making your hands and feet more susceptible to frostbite.

3. Heart Disease - Winter weather can cause a tremendous stress on your heart. If you suffer from heart disease or have some type of heart problem, DONT OVER-DO-IT in the cold weather. The results could be deadly. Make sure to get instructions from your doctor on the specific Dos and Donts for you.

4. Lung Disease - The cold weather can be very hard on those with chronic lung disease. As with those with heart conditions, please be careful and get specific information from your doctor on what you can and cant do.

5. Seniors - Broken hips are a major cause of death in the elderly. Please be careful when walking and if necessary have someone with you to make sure you dont fall.

6. Shoveling  If you must shovel, be careful.

· Listen to the weather forecast so you can rise early and have time to shovel before work.

· Layer clothing to keep your muscles warm and flexible.

· Shoveling can strain de-conditioned muscles between your shoulders, in your upper back, lower back, buttocks and legs. So, do some warm-up stretching before your grab that shovel.

· When you do shovel, push the snow straight ahead; dont try to throw it. Walk it to the snow bank, Avoid sudden twisting and turning motions.

· Bend your knees to lift when shoveling. Do not bend forward at the waist. Let the muscles of your legs and arms do the work, not your back.

· Take frequent rest breaks to take the strain off your muscles. A fatigued body asks for injury.

· Stop if you feel chest pain, or get really tired or have shortness of breath. You may need immediate medical care.

7. Winter Sports  Get plenty of rest; keep hydrated (water) and stretch. Stretching should be sport specific but many of the outdoor activities should focus on the low back, hamstrings and calf muscles.

8. Simple everyday walking from your car to were you are going and back  make sure that you are wearing good winter shoes that have traction, provide support for your ankles and that keep your feet warm and dry. Watch the ground ahead of you for patches of ice and avoid trying to carry too much in one trip.

9. Nutrition and Hydration  The winter time can be very stressful on you body so make sure to eat your vegetables and fruit, take a good multi vitamin and drink water (rule of thumb: drink at least the number of ounces of water equivalent to half your body weight).

10. Exercise  Just because it is winter does not mean that you dont have to exercise. Winter sports can be some of the best cardiovascular, low-impact exercises around. For example, cross country skiing and ice skating are wonderful cardiovascular exercises that can be easier on the joints.

11. Chiropractic and Acupuncture Care  Chiropractic care can keep your nervous system performing at its highest possible level and help boost your immune system. Acupuncture can provide for proper flow of your Qi and thereby boost your immune system and enhance your health. Wellness care can help you stay healthier this winter and possibly reduce the extent of injury you experience if in-fact you do get injured. Also, if you do fall, get into an accident or get hurt, feel free to call me and I will let you know if your condition would be benefited by chiropractic or acupuncture

Healthy Tips

Fruit Juice for Aging Skin: