Its cold mahn!!
Besides the shivers, winter effects the human body a lot, from making you less thirsty to changing you switching up your sleep patterns.
Here’s a list, the effects winter has on the body:
- Shivering: When you’re exposed to cold temperatures, your body shivers involuntarily. Shivering is a mechanism by which your body generates heat through muscle contractions. It helps to maintain your core temperature by increasing metabolic activity.
- Constricted blood vessels: In cold weather, your blood vessels constrict to reduce blood flow to the skin’s surface. This helps to conserve heat and prevent excessive heat loss. As a result, your extremities, such as fingers and toes, may feel colder.
- Decreased thirst sensation: Cold temperatures can reduce your thirst sensation, which may lead to decreased fluid intake. It’s important to stay hydrated during winter, even if you don’t feel as thirsty as you would in warmer weather.
- Dry skin: Cold weather and low humidity can cause dry skin. The combination of cold air outside and heated indoor environments can strip the skin of its natural moisture, leading to dryness, itching, and sometimes even flaking or cracking.
- Vitamin D deficiency: During winter, when the days are shorter and there’s less sunlight exposure, it can be challenging to obtain sufficient vitamin D. Vitamin D is primarily synthesized in the skin when exposed to sunlight, and its deficiency can have various effects on bone health, immunity, and mood.
- Increased respiratory infections: Cold weather doesn’t directly cause respiratory infections, but it can create conditions that favor the transmission of viruses. People tend to spend more time indoors in close proximity, leading to increased contact and exposure to respiratory viruses like the common cold and flu.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Some individuals may experience Seasonal Affective Disorder, commonly known as SAD, during the winter months. It is a type of depression that occurs cyclically with the changing seasons, often due to reduced exposure to sunlight and disruptions in circadian rhythms.
- Frostbite and hypothermia risks: Exposure to extreme cold for prolonged periods can result in frostbite, where body tissues freeze, and hypothermia, which is a dangerous drop in core body temperature. It’s crucial to dress appropriately and take precautions to avoid these conditions in cold weather.
- Increased metabolism: Your body may experience a slight increase in metabolic rate during winter to generate more heat and maintain a stable body temperature. This increased metabolism can lead to a higher caloric expenditure, which may explain why some people feel hungrier during colder months.
- Cold diuresis: When exposed to cold temperatures, your body triggers a response known as cold diuresis. This causes increased urination, which can lead to a higher fluid loss. It’s essential to stay adequately hydrated, even if you may not feel as thirsty.
Remember, these facts are general observations and may not apply to everyone. It’s important to take care of your body and adapt to the specific needs and conditions you experience during winter.
