Cold weather brings along a range
of problems for our body, from blood pressure to appetite, affecting also our mood. Here is the cost of
winter.
The skin is the barrier between the body's internal organs and
the environment. In cold weather it redirects the blood flow from the skin
surface and the internal organs therefore preventing heat loss. One of the
body's ways of staying warm is shivering, the involuntary trembling caused by
rapid contraction and relaxation of muscles. But it is also a way to exercise
without lifting a finger!
In winter the heart works harder, often leading to higher blood pressure.
This is particularly dangerous for the elderly vulnerable as they face heart
attacks and strokes. Because the skin redirects the blood flow internally,
blood vessels constrict and the concentrated blood flow can cause blood clots, which are
dangerous were the arteries are restricted.
The long winter months take their
toll on our immune system, that's why we get colds and related infection more
easily. Our whole body works hard in winter and it reacts to the cold as it
reacts to stress and this affects our mood too. Winter short days and long
nights quite often leave us feeling out of sorts; this is due to lack of
melatonin, a hormone triggered by sunlight and it affects our daily body
rhythms. Bright lights can help for the brain reacts by it by producing more melatoxin
and our spirit will be lifted.
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