Winter as we know it in the Netherlands has a number of heavy frost days every year, which are sometimes accompanied by snow. During the cold months, the temperature quickly reaches freezing point and we dress nice and warm. Anyway, room for the typical winter ailments. But what are typical winter ailments and can you do something about them? The typical winter ailments as we know them in the Netherlands and surrounding countries are often related to our extremely insulated homes. This in combination with viruses that are more likely to occur (we air the house less). We also experience less daylight as unpleasant (less vitamin D means less resistance) and the cold that can affect our body. Try to prevent it as much as possible, after all, forewarned counts for two.
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A sore throat
Everyone will have to deal with it sooner or later, their throat will hurt. It usually concerns a virus and sometimes a bacteria that causes the sore throat. Unfortunately, it has never been scientifically proven that a scarf actually helps prevent a sore throat, or that a warm neck helps the sore throat disappear faster. At most it helps emotionally, because the warmth feels pleasant.
What helps?
If you have a sore throat, it is advisable to drink water regularly. You can also gargle with water containing a little salt or suck on acid. This doesn’t solve it, but it does ease the pain. Paracetamol can also take away the pain, but it also acts as a symptom reliever. Finally, there are also homeopathic remedies such as Echinaforce or lemon drinks, which people can benefit from. But the sore throat will go away on its own at some point.
Chilblains and hands
Chilblains and hands can be very painful. It can also be difficult, because if you have chilblains, you have less grip and something can easily fall out of your hands. The red spots and swellings on toes or fingers are caused by the narrowing of blood vessels in the cold. It then makes blood flow less easily.
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What helps?
A remedy that always offers relief is the alternating bath. Soak hands or feet in warm water for a few minutes and in cold water for half a minute. Repeat this about seven to eight times. You can use these immersion baths several times a day. These alternating baths stimulate blood circulation again.
It is also advisable to wrap hands and feet well. Wool or cotton socks in leather shoes keep the feet warm without sweating too much. For the hands, woolen or leather mittens are even better than gloves made of the same material.
Sometimes hands and feet become very painful and you can preferably take paracetamol or aspirin for this. Aspirin can cause stomach problems and it is therefore a good idea to take a stomach protectant with aspirin. In addition, aspirin can affect the effect of certain medications. This includes diuretics, blood thinners or antidepressants.
Finally, there are also some homeopathic creams for sale that may work for some people. It usually contains marigold, witch hazel or lemon herb. These remedies can soothe any itching and pain. See for yourself if it does anything for you.
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Running nose
Quite a few people suffer from it, sometimes even unnoticed, during the winter months. The nose that is constantly producing moisture.
What helps?
By turning your nose up a lot, which can become a habit at some point, you no longer even think about it. Yet you are actually doing the right thing, because when you blow your nose, you also push your mucus into the sinuses, as it were. Mucus containing viruses and bacteria. This actually increases the risk of inflammation. When you wrinkle your nose, you unconsciously remove mucus from your sinuses. If you prefer to blow your nose, you must proceed carefully. In any case, use paper tissues and keep one nostril closed when blowing gently. Alternate this and also gently blow your nose from the other nostril.
Because breathing can sometimes be difficult when the fluid in the nose becomes slightly full, a nasal drop or spray containing sodium chloride (table salt) often helps. It literally gives you air. Always read carefully on the packaging how to apply it and for how long. Do not continue to use it forever!
Dry skin
The skin can feel quite dry during the cold months. Lower legs often feel like sandpaper. While the legs are simply rubbed after showering. But arms and hands and even the face can also feel rough.
What helps?
Moisturizing after showering is good, but in addition to using a cream or oil instead of the body lotion that most people use, it is also important not to shower too hot. If you shower hotter than 38 degrees, you will wash off the important sebum layer. The sebum layer is precisely for the suppleness of your skin. Do not shower above 38 degrees and use a soap product that is pH neutral (healthy skin has a pH of approximately 5.5). This means that the pH value, or how acidic the product is, is equal to the pH value of the skin. If the pH value is no longer in balance, bacteria that keep harmful substances out can no longer function optimally.
You can also tackle extra dry spots with pure Vaseline. Apply a firm layer to the area twice a day and let it soak into the skin.
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Chapped lips
It can be very painful, the transverse cracks that can appear in dry lips. Sometimes to the point of bleeding. That in itself makes sense, because the skin there is very thin. People tend to wet (hydrate) their lips when they feel such a crack, but that is actually counterproductive.
What helps?
The most effective thing is to keep the lips greasy. This can be done with a special lip balm (you even have them with a color), but you can also apply Vaseline. For good hydration it is important to continue drinking regularly.
What you can also do in the evenings is to rub a slice of cucumber over your lips and then spread a layer of honey on it. Because this can give off certain odors, it is more of a product that you use at home in the evenings.
Finally
Various ailments that can be more or less painful or minimally troublesome. However, most ailments can be solved with home remedies. Start immediately, because that is the only way to prevent sometimes very painful situations.