If you’ve paid attention at all to the national weather announcements, you have heard a lot about that four letter word that many dread. That word is SNOW. Yes, the skiers and the businesses that depend on it are loving life right now, but the entire Southeast has had more than enough at this point. The Northeast has had over four feet of snow so far this year.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), there is snow on the ground in 49 of 50 states, with Florida being the only holdout (Yes, even Hawaii has received some snow). Just under 71% of the country is covered in the white stuff right now. While this is not a statistic they keep regularly, the NWS has confirmed that in December, the average was less than half what it is now.
Considering how many people across the country are affected by this, we thought it important to discuss how to stay warm when you have to venture outside. Keeping warm is vital, because if your body temperature drops, you are at a greater risk for heart attack, stroke or breathing problems.
Obviously the easiest way to stay warm is to not go outdoors at all, but we all can’t hide away from the cold. We have jobs, school, etc. Here are a few ideas on how to get through before the spring thaw.
Feed Your Furnace
In order to keep your body running and your energy level up, you should try to eat five small meals through out the day. Eat at least one of these meals should be hot and hot beverages will help keep your body temperature up throughout the day. You want these meals to have energy building foods such as proteins, fruits and vegetables. There is a reason why chicken soup or even chili is so good this time of year. I like Oatmeal and Cream of Wheat for these choices.
One contrast to this though is what you should do just before heading out into the frozen tundra. One thing you can do to keep warm is to actually drink a COLD beverage. Drinking a cold caffeinated beverage will increase your heart rate. This will speed up the blood flow throughout your body. The reason for the caffeine is that it helps to speed up the blood flow, which in turn generates warmer blood through your body at a much faster rate. This sounds counter-intuitive, but it is true! When your body is cold, it will turn on the mechanism to activate shivering, increasing body temperature to maintain homeostasis – so you actually are and feel warmer.
It’s All About Layers These Days
You would be surprised how often this is handled incorrectly. Layers are extremely important, but going out looking like the boy from “A Christmas Story” won’t necessarily make you warm and you will be incredibly uncomfortable. It is much better to wear several thin layers of clothes rather than one thick layer. Layering light clothes made of cotton, wool or some sort of fleece-like synthetic under a thick coat is ideal. I still like what skiers often wear…thermal underwear.
Make sure to wear gloves (preferably water-proof) and put something on your head. Without a hat, the majority of your body temperature will escape without you even noticing. Insulated, non-slip shoes or boots that will keep some sort of grip on icy pavement is ideal.
One mistake people make is they keep their jackets and boots near the front door to be put on just before leaving. They hang out by the fireplace as long as possible with the idea that it will keep them warm outside. The reality of it is that warmth only lasts a minute at the most. There is a better way to conserve some body heat. Try putting on your jacket and boots five minutes prior to going out. Doing this gives your body a chance to warm up inside.
A Rolling Stone Gathers No Cold
Constant motion keeps your blood circulating and will help maintain your body temperature. Whether it is pacing while waiting for a bus or jiggling your feet while riding that 10 minute ski-lift, keep your body moving while outdoors. Also remember to keep hydrated. Despite the cold, your body will sweat and the dry air can suck the moisture right out of you. If you are skiing, shoveling or just playing outside, keep the fluids going just as if you were sweating at the beach.
Spring is just two months away folks. Use these tips to get through, and as always, if you have tips of your own, don’t be shy and please share them with us!
If you have questions or need further information about this topic, please go to http://www.lynnkerew.com. Other great articles about the spine and body can be found on our fantastic blog (that you should join!) at http://www.lynnkerew.com/blog. If you wish to contact Dr. Lynn Kerew directly, you can email her at lynnkerew@gmail.com.
