Winter Health

Image by Mojca JJ from Pixabay

Winter Health

by Dr. Zach, 2018

 

  1. Colds and Flu (and the flushot)
  2. Heart attacks in winter
  3. Vitamin D — supplement
  4. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
  5. Frostbite
  6. Hypothermia
  7. Falls

 

  1. Colds and Flu

 

Why viruses more in winter — more time indoors sharing air, viruses prefer dryer air

 

  1. Cold — caused by a virus, one of several

Runny nose, cough, congestion, low grade fever, sore throat

Not caused by being cold (maybe predispose via cold vasoconstricted dry mucus membranes)

 

  1. b) Flu — caused by influenza virus

 

Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, extreme fatigue, sore throat, runny
nose, cough and nasal congestion. Occasionally, stomach symptoms such as nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain are present.

What are complications associated with flu?
Complications caused by influenza include pneumonia and dehydration, and
worsening of chronic medical conditions such as chronic lung or heart diseases. Children
may develop sinus problems or ear infections.

How is influenza spread?
Influenza is spread from person to person by direct contact with airborne particles or large
droplets from the respiratory tract of the infected person when coughing, sneezing, or
talking. Transmission can also occur through articles recently contaminated by secretions
from the nose and throat of the infected person. Handwashing and avoiding or limiting
contact with an infected person may reduce the risk of infection.

How soon do symptoms appear?
Symptoms of influenza usually appear 1-4 days after exposure.

 

Virus shedding (contagiousness) begins day before symptoms appear and lasts 5-7 days.  Most infective on 2nd and 3rd days after infection. Correlated with fever. (re shedding – shouldn’t go to work)

Every year 10-25% of canadians get flu and 500-1500 die from it

Virus lives longer with low humidity and lack of sunlight.  15 min on tissues, 5 min on skin, 1-2 days on plastic or metal.  Mucus protects (up to 17 days on banknotes!)

 

Get the shot!  Safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women

 

Influenza can occur throughout the year, but seasonally peaks from December to March.

 

See doc if short of breath, chest pain, drowsy, neck stiff, fever in infant less than 3 months, not urinating

 

  1. c) Tamiflu/oseltamivir.  Best if given within 48hrs.  Lessens symptoms and shortens illness 1-2 days.  Can be used as prophylaxis if exposed.

Give to ppl with chronic dz (lung dz, cancer, liver dz, kidney dz, dm, smokers, 65+)

Kids can take it but not necessary unless have health problems

 

Remember you can infect others, even if you take meds and feel better

Prevention with hand washing, cough into bend of elbow

 

  1. d) Flu shot (shot is dead virus, nasal is live weakened, only for ages 2-59):  everyone 6 months and older can get. takes 2 weeks to gain immunity. Can get if chicken egg allergy unless severe — if worried, 1/10th the dose and observe 30 min before giving the rest.

Some people get soreness, or mild flulike sx.

Caregivers should get it.

 

https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/advice-and-prevention/vaccination/flu-vaccination-program/

https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/advice-and-prevention/vaccination/flu-vaccine/

 

From the QC government website:

In QC this year the flu vaccine is recommended and offered free of charge to people who are at higher risk of complications:

  • Children from 6 months to 17 years old who have certain chronic diseases (flushot not given before 6 months)
  • Pregnant women, in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of their pregnancy
  • Adults who have certain chronic diseases (including pregnant women regardless the stage of pregnancy)
  • People aged 75 and over.

To reduce the risk of contamination, the flu vaccine is also offered free of charge to:

  • Family members who live in the same household of a child under 6 months of age or a person at higher risk of being hospitalized and to their caregivers
  • Health care workers

Flu vaccination is also free of charge to:

  • Healthy children from 6 to 23 months old
  • Healthy people from 60 to 74 years old (and 75 and over)

Chronic Diseases Recognised Under the Program

The flu vaccine is offered free of charge to people who have any of the chronic diseases listed below because their disease makes them more susceptible to complications from the flu.

  • Chronic cardiac or pulmonary disorders severe enough to require regular medical attention or hospital care, including the following:
    • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
    • Cystic fibrosis
    • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
    • Emphysema
    • Asthma
  • Chronic conditions such as:
    • Diabetes or other chronic metabolic disorders
    • Liver problems, including cirrhosis
    • Kidney problems
    • Blood disorders, including hemoglobinopathy
    • Cancer
    • Immunodeficiencies, including HIV infection
    • Immunosuppression caused by radiotherapy, chemotherapy and anti-rejection drugs
  • Medical conditions that may affect the ability to expel respiratory secretions and the ability to swallow, including the following:
    • Cognitive disorder
    • Spinal cord injury
    • Convulsive disorder
    • Neuromuscular disorders
    • Morbid obesity

If you are not eligible for the free vaccine, you can still get vaccinated. Since the fee may vary, contact the vaccination clinic of your choice (CLSC, medical clinic or pharmacy) to find out how much it will cost.

 

Where to get the flu vaccine in QC:   https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/advice-and-prevention/vaccination/flu-vaccination-program/procedure/

 

  1. Heart attacks – increase in winter

5-30% increase in heart related deaths in winter, up to 50% more heart attacks in winter

Cold temperature causes vasoconstriction so increased bp.  Also blood clots easier in

cold.

– from the cold, shoveling

Emotional stress, weight gain, little exercise, more salt

Binge drinking is associated with atrial fibrillation, a common cardiac arrhythmia

Know the symptoms

 

  1. Recommend Vitamin D (800iu/d) supplementation especially in winter, and calcium (1000mg, 1200 if >50yo)

Why:

-Bones and teeth

-Immune system

-Diabetes control

-Cardiovascular health

-Help prevent cancer — There is evidence that vitamin D may reduce the risk of some types of cancer, particularly colorectal and breast cancers.

 

Read more: http://www.cancer.ca/en/prevention-and-screening/reduce-cancer-risk/make-healthy-choices/eat-well/should-i-take-a-vitamin-d-supplement/?region=on#ixzz5X1bvapyf

 

  1. SAD – seasonal affective disorder — decrease in sunlight

Major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern; usually worse in winter.  SAD’s prevalence in the U.S. ranges from 1.4% in Florida to 9.9% in Alaska.[

Light therapy, medications, therapy

Light therapy (10000 lux, little uv as possible (damaging to skin and eyes), 20-30min

soon after waking, eyes open but not looking directly)

 

  1. Frostbite — An injury to the body caused by freezing.  It most commonly affects areas that are extremities and that are uncovered, such as the nose, ears, cheeks, fingers, and toes, especially in those with reduced blood circulation.  If recognized early, frostbite can be mild, but if left untreated it can lead to severe damage or loss of the frostbitten body part.

 

Signs of frostbite include a white or gray skin colour, numbness, and firmness or waxiness of the skin.  It is wise to warm or cover any area that begins to feel painful or turn red in the cold because once frostbite sets in the area may be numb and more damage may result without you feeling it.

 

Tips: get warm, do not walk on frostbitten toes, put the frostbitten part into warm water or warm the area with body heat.  Be careful not to burn the affected area which may well be numb.

 

As always, prevention is better than treatment.  Dress properly, cover your skin in the cold.

 

  1. Hypothermia:

 

Dress like it’s cold out, not like you’re going from a heated house to a heated car to a heated work.

 

Abnormally low body temperature — 35C or less.  very cold temperatures, or less cold temperatures if not well dressed or wet.  very old and very young especially susceptible.

 

Warning signs of hypothermia include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, incoordination, memory loss, and slurred speech.  In infants you might note very low energy and bright red, cold skin.

 

Patients with mild hypothermia demonstrate tachypnea, tachycardia, initial hyperventilation, ataxia, dysarthria, impaired judgment, shivering, and so-called “cold diuresis.”

  • Moderate hypothermia is characterized by proportionate reductions in pulse rate and cardiac output, hypoventilation, central nervous system depression, hyporeflexia, decreased renal blood flow, and loss of shivering. Paradoxical undressing may be observed. Atrial fibrillation, junctional bradycardia, and other arrhythmias can occur.
  • Severe hypothermia can lead to pulmonary edema, oliguria, areflexia, coma, hypotension, bradycardia, ventricular arrhythmias (including ventricular fibrillation), and asystole

 

Get warm, get help if bad. To warm place, remove wet clothing, and warm the person, such as in a warm blanket.  Warm beverages can help the person to warm up as well.

 

Dress warm, wear layers.

 

  1. Careful about falls

Shovel, salt, stay active for muscles & balance, slow down, shoes with traction, bring a phone/have a plan for falls

Image by Mojca JJ from Pixabay

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