Busting winter myths: Understanding the dos and don’ts during winter season
While many suggestions related to winter might be accurate, there are also a lot of myths surrounding winter, which are perhaps inaccurate
Hyderabad: Winter season not only signals chilly conditions but comes with a lot of ‘do’s and don’ts’ that are often passed-on from generation-to-generation. While many suggestions related to winter might be accurate, there are also a lot of myths surrounding winter, which are perhaps inaccurate. So, here are some of the myths around winters that modern medicine and science provide better alternative explanations:
Cold air causes fever:
This has become almost a universal myth that everybody believes! Whenever the weather changes and it becomes cold, people often advise to avoid cold air. However, it is not the cold air that causes infections/ diseases/fevers. It is the circulating virus that causes influenza and viral fevers with symptoms like cough, fever, sore throat etc. Cold weather conditions provide ideal conditions for the virus to circulate, proliferate and infect freely and not the cold air. During cold conditions, there is also a rise in allergies.
Avoid exercising in winter:
There is no valid reason/ evidence to believe that individuals will get sick if they walk/run or lift weights during winters. However, just like we take preventive measures during summers, people must follow a few simple tips. Before going out for a walk/ run, in winter, it’s better to wear an extra layer of clothing for protection from chilly conditions during early hours. In case you already have a cold or fever, it’s better to avoid venturing out. Just like in summers, always remember to warm-up before your workout. In winters, the body will be cold during the initial few minutes of the walk/run/exercise. However, within a few minutes, the body warms-up during walk/run/lifting weights and enables you to enjoy the later part of the workout.
Having alcohol warms you up:
Having a swig of brandy/whisky/ rum during cold weather is a very popular myth across the world. The moment you have an alcoholic drink during cold conditions, will feel that you are getting warmer. Alcohol sends blood towards the surface of the skin, making it flush. The flip side is that the blood is moving away from the main organs of the body. As a result, the core temperature of the body drops. Having alcohol during winters can also make people underestimate the risks associated with hypothermia. In the end, the body’s ability to fight cold diminishes because of cold.
In winters, we need not drink water more
You may not be as thirsty as you are during summer, but there is always a need for the body to remain properly hydrated during winters. Always respond quickly to your thirst and consume water accordingly. You are wrong to assume that during winters, we need less water. Whatever be the weather outside, the human body always needs to be kept hydrated to maintain proper fluid balance and also to have a hydrated skin.