During the colder winter months, it may be tempting to take a break from an active lifestyle. The weather is cold, it gets dark early and exercising indoors just isn’t the same. However, winter is peak virus season. Keeping an active lifestyle is a great way to boost your immune system, which means that staying active during the winter is more important than ever. Find out how to protect yourself from illness this winter through exercising safely. Visit AFC Urgent Care Thornton for same-day illness care without an appointment.
Health Benefits Of Staying Active
Being active is not only a great way to get in shape, but it also has incredible health benefits. Living an active lifestyle can reduce your chances of developing a serious disease as you age, such as heart conditions. It also can promote elasticity in your joints and make your bones stronger as you age, making you less susceptible to develop arthritis and other joint issues.
Not only that, staying active and promoting good cardiovascular health through high intensity workouts will increase your body's ability to pump blood and oxygen, which is critical to fighting off infections. Without good cardiovasicular health, you are at risk of developing a severe illness as you age which can be life threatening.
Common Illnesses & Injuries From Exercising Outdoors When It’s Cold
Although staying active has many health benefits, it can be difficult and even dangerous in certain cases to do so. This is especially true in areas that get very low temperatures and heavy snowfall in the winter months. If you’re someone who loves exercising outdoors, even when it’s freezing outside, there are some serious health risks that you need to be prepared to protect yourself from.
Most commonly, hypothermia and frostbite are both serious health complications that can occur from prolonged exposure to freezing air. During the cold months, you may not necessarily feel cold because your body is working hard, but your extremities can suffer damage if not properly protected. Similarly, falls are a common winter injury that occurs during exercize. Black ice and surfaces that aren’t flat can both contribute to serious fall injuries during exercise.
How to Layer Properly To Stay Safe While Exercising This Winter
If you’re planning on keeping your work outs outdoors this winter, despite the weather, there are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure that your workouts are safe and don’t result in injury or illness.
- Wear sweat absorbing under layers to prevent hypothermia
- Wear a waterproof outer layer to protect from moisture
- Wear the correct shoes and be aware of your surroundings
- Wear or bring gloves and a face guard to protect your skin
- Invest in quality merino wool socks to protect your feet
Although there are a million different ways that you can layer properly, these tips will help keep you safe and warm while exercising outdoors. Always make sure to carry a phone in the off chance that you need to escape the elements quickly and want to call someone to pick you up. Staying hydrated during the winter can be difficult due to the fact that we have a diminished thirst response. Always track how much water you’re drinking to ensure that you are staying hydrated before, during and after a winter workout.
Visit AFC Urgent Care Thornton For Walk-In Illness Diagnosis & Treatment In Thornton, CO
If you’re someone who enjoys exercising, even when its freezing out, you have to ensure that you’re prepared for the conditions. If you’re in need of medical care due to cold exposure or illness symptoms, AFC Urgent Care Thornton can help. Our medical staff is board-certified and able to quickly provide quality medical care on a walk-in basis. Simply walk into our clinic, or schedule an appointment online.
AFC Urgent Care Thornton offers same-day medical care on a walk in basis for patients in Thornton, CO and the surrounding communities. Our facility is equipped with state of the art technology, including a laboratory and digital X-ray suite, which allows our medical providers to provide fast and accurate diagnoses for a variety of injuries and illnesses. We accept most medical insurance plans and offer low cost care. Walk in today. For additional questions about the services we provide, contact us directly by calling (720) 751-2910.
