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Winter's not over yet; how to stay healthy 'til spring

Severe storms already have been suffered through across the country this winter ‐ and the season isn't over yet. Unfortunately, the chance for more brutal weather remains.

But since hibernating until spring is not an option for most people, Topical Biomedics, Inc., a research leader in topical biomedicines for pain relief, has provided some winter survival tips to get you through the rest of the cold season, whether you're hitting the slopes or digging out your car.

‐ Watch out for numbness, a cold or burning feeling and hard or waxy‐looking skin, which can be signs of frostbite, and can occur even at temperatures of 27 degrees. To treat frostbite, call a doctor right away, and try to thaw frostbitten parts in warm ‐ not hot ‐ water and do not vigorously rub frostbitten parts.

‐ Beware of hypothermia, which is when a body loses heat faster than it can be produced and vital organs cannot function. Symptoms, which appear gradually, include clumsiness, slurred speech, confusion and drowsiness. If someone has hypothermia, call 911 and layer them with blankets.

‐ If you're not sweating, you may not remember to keep up on your water intake. But your body uses more water in the winter to keep warm, so stay hydrated. Also, drink warm, rather than hot, drinks because you're likely to drink more of them.

‐ Skin needs to stay hydrated, too, so use a humidifier or always have a pot of water on top of a burning woodstove.

‐ Dress in layers, including good, wicking socks to keep your feet warm and dry; a hat to prevent loss of heat from your head; and scarves, goggles and earmuffs to protect your face. Choose mittens over gloves, since fingers can actually get frostbitten in gloves when they can't keep each other warm.

‐ Cold muscles are more susceptible to injury, so stretch and warm up indoors before heading out into the cold.

‐ If shoveling snow is on your to‐do list, use a lighter shovel, use your knees to lift instead of your back and, most importantly, pace yourself and don't let your breathing get too heavy.