Winter Weather: How It Affects Your Health and What to Watch Out For

Winter isn't just about snow and cozy fires. It also brings some health risks you should know about. Dr. Steve Dorsey from the Cleveland Clinic says icy sidewalks are a big problem, leading to many falls. Shoveling snow can be tough on your heart, too. Cold weather can weaken your immune system, making it easier to catch colds, flu, and even COVID. Even healthy people can get a cough or feel short of breath in cold air. That's because cold, dry air can irritate your airways. So, bundle up and cover your mouth and nose if you're out for a while.

Who's most at risk? Kids and seniors. Kids lose heat faster, and seniors have a harder time regulating their body temperature. This can be due to thinner skin, less muscle, or even some medications. Hypothermia happens when your body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Your brain, heart, and lungs can't work right at these temperatures. Frostbite is another danger. It happens when skin or tissue freezes. Symptoms start with a cold, sore feeling, then pins and needles, and finally numbness. If you notice any of these, get warm and check your skin for changes. The best defense? Dress right! Cover your ears, hands, and feet.

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