“People tell us: we don’t feel well, we have a runny nose, we sneeze…” says Jocelyne Gaudin, a pharmacist in the Paris region. This Friday rains arrive from the west of the country. During the weekend it will be accompanied by a significant drop in temperatures that will finally mark the arrival of autumn.
As Public Health France points out on its site, the drop in temperatures is usually accompanied by an increase in infectious diseases: “colds, flu, nasopharyngitis, gastroenteritis…”, to which Covid-19 is now added.
“They come to look for throat lozenges, they are tired…” confirms Jocelyne Gaudin.
renew the air
However, it is not so much the cold itself that directly makes us sick, but rather what it implies in terms of changes in our habits when winter arrives. When the mercury is low, our lifestyles are more conducive to the spread of seasonal infections.
In fact, we stay more often indoors, in closed and unventilated spaces. Therefore, it is worth remembering to ventilate each room in the house every day, for at least 10 minutes, to renew the air inside houses, apartments or workplaces.
It is also advisable to go out and get some fresh air, despite the cold or bad weather, dressing warmly. And when it is sunny, this allows us to produce vitamin D, essential “in the quality of bone and muscle tissue, as well as in strengthening our immune system,” explains ANSES.
Eat balanced
In winter it is important to maintain a balanced diet that provides all the necessary nutrients. Although it is often tempting to eat high-fat, filling foods on cold days, the body actually expends “very few additional calories during extreme cold, so you should not eat more in winter,” explains Paris Health Insurance.
“It is also advisable to consume honey, known for its antibacterial properties,” he adds on his site. Among the best-known products we can use royal jelly and propolis. You should also make sure you stay well hydrated by drinking water and hot drinks.
barrier gestures
Sport is also an excellent ally to maintain good health since “exercise helps self-clean the respiratory tract,” explains Seguros de Salud.
Health professionals also recommend sleeping well, since a tired body defends itself less well against viruses and various external aggressions. “That is why it is recommended to sleep a minimum of eight hours per night to achieve quality sleep for health.”
Finally, to avoid getting sick and slowing down transmissions, there are the gestures that we now know by heart. Public Health France recommends washing your hands regularly and drying them well afterwards. To blow your nose, it is best to use tissues, throw them in a closed trash can, and cover your mouth with your elbow if you cough or sneeze.
Source: BFM TV
