Longmont United Hospital

LONGMONT UNITED HOSPITAL WINTER 2014 A COLORADO WINTER UIDE AL G RVIV SU Powdery snow, blustery skies, and sunshiny afternoons can mean runny noses, chapped lips, dry skin, and a whole host of wintertime health woes. Time for some proactive wellness measures. "LIVING IN THE FOOTHILLS of the Rocky Mountains means we get all types of interesting weather—from floods to snowstorms; the weather in Longmont always keeps you guessing," says Megan "Soma" Ewing-Lewis Grotefend, MD, family medicine physician with Milestone Medical Group. "Working and playing in higher elevations takes more effort for the body to maintain normal oxygen levels, making even a sinus infection more difficult to shake." Soma Grotefend, MD When temperatures drop and the days grow shorter, winter germs and flu viruses come out in microscopic droves, lurking on doorknobs, counters, cell phones, backpacks, coffee cups, and more. This environment can drag down your immune system, leaving you feeling drained and a prime target for other health complications, such as pneumonia. "By January, we start seeing our first cases of the flu," Dr. Grotefend says. "It's usually when everybody heads indoors, bracing for winter, that the flu and whooping cough really start to spread." If you get sick, the best policy, for you and those around you, is to stay home and take care of yourself. This helps prevents illness from spreading and encourages your recovery. When you seem to be suffering longer than you should, it's a good idea to contact your primary care provider. THE COLD TRUTH "If what seems like a cold lasts longer than two weeks, it's time to see the doctor," Dr. Grotefend says. "Strep throat and other bacterial infections may require an antibiotic to clear up. However, chronic or persistent coughing spells could be a sign of whooping cough—which is on the rise in Longmont—and should been seen immediately." AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION According to Dr. Grotefend, the best defense against getting sick during the winter months starts with getting a flu shot and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating a nutritious diet, and exercising all year long. Studies show a diet rich in vitamins B, C, and D is crucial in supporting immunity, healthy skin, and a vibrant heart. "It's not enough to simply take a multivitamin or smooth on lotion during the winter," Dr. Grotefend says. "You have to give your body the protection it needs to fend off disease by eating foods that bolster the immune system and add moisture to the body. By the time your lips become chapped, your skin turns raw and cracked, or dark circles form under your eyes, your body is dehydrated and thirsting for water to help moisturize itself." WINTER WONDER FOODS During the winter, the body needs extra calories to stay warm. On days when the temperatures dip well into the teens, beat the winter chill by eating foods that help warm you up from the inside, such as During the winter, drinking plenty of water helps naturally moisturize your skin from the inside out. Breathing in dry, cold air that the body then warms before you exhale causes the body to lose large amounts of water with each breath. In addition, participating in strenuous winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and snowshoeing burns hundreds of calories, while wearing layers of clothing to stay warm can make the body sweat. Remember to carry water with you while you exercise. The Institute of Medicine recommends about 13 cups of fluid intake per day for adult men and 9 cups for adult women. 4

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