Are you someone who doesn't want to compromise on fitness, even when the temperatures drop? In the winter months especially, not taking care of yourself can lead to catching a cold or experiencing body pain. Continue reading for some tips on how to keep reaching your physical health goals while remaining safe and healthy. Get same-day injury or illness care at AFC Urgent Care Cedar Grove– no appointment necessary!
Remaining Fit in the Winter
The cold weather can make people want to stay indoors with tea or coffee to relax in front of a warm fire. Still, there are many individuals who don't see chilly temperatures as an excuse to give up on staying fit. Exercise is necessary, and everyone should make it an essential part of their routine. Exercising helps maintain and improve overall health and well-being. It has many immediate and long-term benefits, including lower blood pressure, better mood, and lower chances for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Sounds good, right? While physical fitness is important, so is staying safe and avoiding injury.
Tips For Exercising Safely in the Winter
Here are a few suggestions that have been compiled for you to exercise safely in winter:
How Cold Will the Weather Become?
How do you know about the severity of the weather? Therefore, check the wind, temperature, and moisture before heading outside. Despite wearing warm attire, the extreme wind chill will not ask for your permission as that can make exercising outdoors unsafe, making you feel unwell. Unless you are equipped with waterproof gear, drop the idea of working out if it’s raining or snowing because getting wet in the cold might lower your body’s temperature.
Look for Frostbite and Hypothermia
One scary, unwanted gift of winter is frostbite. This results in a stinging sensation on exposed skin areas, such as your nose, cheeks, and ears. If you observe frostbite, immediately get out of the cold and slowly give heat to the affected area by running it under lukewarm water or wrapping it in a blanket.
Hypothermia occurs when the body is used to remaining in cold more than necessary and eventually loses more heat than it can make. The symptoms are slurred speech, intense shivering, loss of coordination, and fatigue. In that situation, it is best to seek emergency help immediately if you suspect hypothermia.
Layer Up
Dress up in layers. Winters demand you to wear as much as possible, but during exercise, the body generates heat, and you will begin sweating. For that, your layered dressing can assist you in removing layers turn by turn if you excessively start sweating and put them back on if you feel cold.
For your first layer, wear a synthetic material instead of cotton. Then, add fleece or wool for insulation. Finally, wear a waterproof layer like a raincoat to protect yourself from getting wet if it rains.
Stay Hydrated
Keep yourself hydrated as much as possible. Your body generates heat during workouts, which requires water, so please don’t overlook this need. Drink plenty of water before and after the workout.
Get Same-Day Care at AFC Urgent Care Cedar Grove
Doing routine exercises in winter increases the chance of getting hypothermia, which the medical experts say should be treated immediately without delay. If you encounter slurred speech, extremely low body temperature, intense shivering, and loss of coordination, seek immediate care. If you sustain an accidental injury this winter, visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Cedar Grove. We treat an extensive range of injuries, including slips and falls, joint dislocations, fractures and more. Just walk-in any day of the week!
