Abstract:-
The winter season in India starts from mid-November and lasts till the last week of February.
During these months, people face health problems due to change in the climate. Shorter days and longer nights impact the health of people in some or other ways. Immunity gets low due to exposure of indoor as well as outdoor weather. Adult as well as children are very susceptible to change in weather. Children are more prone to catch a lot of winter related diseases as their immunity is still developing. When winter diseases are concerned there are many effective medicine in homoeopathy, but selection depends upon on individuality of the patient, considering mental and physical symptoms. Homoeopathic medicines are effective in controlling as well as preventing winter diseases.
Keywords:-
Winter, Diseases, Immunity, Susceptible, Individual, Homoeopathy.
Introduction:-
In winter, there are likely changes of getting sick because of low temperature. With the winter comes vulnerability of sickness such as cold, cough, fever, joint pain, skin illness and other systemic problems. Colds, flus and other respiratory illnesses are common in winter season. People are indoors more often, allowing to pass viruses from one person to another. Cold weather, mist, cold air, lack of sunlight reduces immunity and increases risk of health Issues.
Causative factor :-
1) Cold air:- Cold, dry air in winter makes it easier for viruses to spread.
2) Indoor activity:- People tend to spend more time indoors to avoid cold weather. This conditions make it vulnerable for viruses to spread person to person in crowded places.
3) Immune system:- Cold weather can constrict the blood vessels, for conserving heatthat makes the immunity weak. This constrict makes the body fight back.
4) Micro-organism:- Research says that viruses can survive better in cold temperature and multiply easily.
Common health problem in winter:-
1) Common Cold :- Common cold is most common in winter. A Common cold can be many viruses but Rhinovirus is the most common cause for cold.
Symptoms:-
Stuffy or Runny nose
Sore throat
Sneezing
Coughing
Low grade fever
Malaise
Bodyache
Mild headache
2) Flu(Influenza):- Flu is another respiratory tract disorder caused by influenza virus.
It usually affects the nose, throat and sometimes lungs.
Symptoms:-
Fatigue
Fever
Cold sweats
Severe bodyache
Headache
Sometime diarrhoea and vomiting
3) Sore throat:- Bacterial infection are more transmissible in cold atmosphere, it makes throat sore and scratchy. Grp A streptococci are a common cause for sore throat. Allergen, dust, dryness in air, pollutant and throat cancer are more responsible factor.
Symptoms:-
Severe pain in throat
Swollen and red throat
Enlarged tonsils
Swollen lymph nodes
Fever
Headache
Difficulty in swallowing
4) Pneumonia:– A large number of bacteria, virus and fungi are responsible for causing pneumonia. It is a life-threatening condition. Pneumococcal pneumonia is most prevalent form of bacterial pneumonia caused by strep pneumoniae, which usually resides in the upper respiratory tract.
Symptoms:-
Severe cough
Green phlegm
High fever
Shortness of breath
Severe headache
Diarrhoea
Vomiting
Profuse sweating
Pain in muscles
5) Asthma Flare up:- People are allergic to dust, mites, mold, pet dander suffer during winter season. These allergens triggers asthma. The histamine is responsible for triggering wheezing and other symptoms related to asthma.
Symptoms:-
Continous coughing during winter nights
Gasping for air after small exercise
Whistle sound when breathing
Tightness of breath
Shortness of breath
6) Pain in joint :- During winter, most people suffering from arthritis will feel discomfort in their joints. The synovial fluid which is present in knee joints as a protective fluid, gets thicker during winter. This leads to increase tension contributing stiffened movement in joints. Discomfort cause due to nerve staining over joint. Smoking aggravate the complaint of joint pain.
Symptoms:-
Pain in joint with movement or at rest.
Limited movement
Stiffness
Swelling or tenderness at joint
Redness or warmth in joint
Not able to do routine work
7) Skin infection:- Dry itchy skin is first indication which we all have experience in winter. Acne, eczema, insufficient natural oil production and lack of moisture leads to
dry itchy skin.
Symptoms:-
Skin get rough and dry
Itching (Pruritis) aggravate at night
Slight to severe flaking, scaling and peeling
Fine line or cracks
Deep cracks leads to bleeding
Redness
Black discoloration of skin
Scratching
8) Seasonal depression:- Seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder is a mood disorder that may be caused by hormonal production in the brain.
Symptoms:-
- Weight gain
- Trouble concentrating
- Increase appetite
- Fatigue
- Suicidal thoughts
- Isolation feeling
- Preventing Winter Health Problem:-
- Do exercise regularly
- Eat a balanced diet
- Wear cloths that keep u warm
- Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated
- Sleep well
- Practice healthy hygiene habits
- Be mindful to mental health
Homoeopathic Remedies:
When Winter season is concerned there are many effective medicine available in homoeopathy, but selection depends upon the individuality of the patient, considering mental and physical symptoms and similimum of symptoms.
1) Arsenic Album: – Arsenic album helps to relieve a wide range of respiratory problem such as cold, cough, sore throat. Burning sensation, constricted airways, difficulty in breathing. Weakness and exhaustion yet the, patient will be restless, anxious and may even pace about. There may be chilly and shivering with symptom worse in midnight. Arsenic album has tendency to worry and anxious about health issues and fear about impending disease.
2) Gelsemium :- Patient is dull, heavy, weak with droopy eyelids and fatigue. The fever causes chill runs up and down the spine and there is trembling and shaking of body. Gelsemium patient wants to lie down as physical activity make the patient worse.
3) Natrium Muriaticum:– Cold with clear nasal discharge like a white of an egg, sneezing( more often and worse in morning), headache, diminished sense of taste and smell. The person may develop cold sore around the mouth, lips are chapped and cracked.
4) Dulcamara:- When person get sick due to change in weather or by getting wet into cold, this remedy should be in mind. A person who needs dulcamara also have tends to allergies.
5) Baryta Carb:- This remedy is indicated to person who frequently catches cold by getting chilled. A runny nose and swollen upper lip, swollen lymph node, tonsils, adenoids are typical symptoms. This remedy is helpful to children who are bashful and slow to develop.
6) Rhux tox:- If cold beings with stiffness and bodyache, especially a cold damp weather or weather change, and leads to sore throat. Warmth and motion bring relief, both mentally and physically.
7) Petroleum:- Petroleum is one of the top most remedy for skin complaints in winter. Deep cracks appear in folds, nipple, finger tips, etc. Scaly eruption on hand in winter. Itching at night, Chillblains, moist, itch and burn. Bed-sore. Skin is dry, constricted, very sensitive, rough and cracked, leathery. Rhagades worse in winter.
8) Alumina:- Alumina is prescribed for skin complaints worse in winter. On hand,rhagades worse in winter and from washing
9) Coffea Cruda:– Great nervous agitation and restlessness. Insomnia. Aliments from bad effect of sudden emotion or pleasurable surprises.
10) Cocculus indicus:- Insomnia that stems from mental and physical exhaustion. Irresistible desire to sleep in morning with spasmodic yawning. Dreams of vivid, anxious and restless.
Conclusion:- Homoeopathy offers support in restoring our body’s balance, health And vitality. It strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick towards the sick individual through the promotion of inner balance at mental, physical and emotional level. Homoeopathic medicine are effective in controlling as well as preventing winter diseases. Homoeopathy helps in boosting immunity in winter and by preventing complication of winter related disease condition. Homoeopathy helps in providing a healthy lifestyle to individuals.
References:-
1) Winter Health Problems: Tips on How to Prevent Common Health Issues in
Cold Weather | Hetero Healthcare
2) What Are The Common Winter Diseases? | A.J. Hospital, Mangalore
3) Some Common Health Problems in Winter Seasons and Their Symptoms
4) How does cold weather affect your health? – Harvard Health
5) William Boericke- Homoeopathic Materia medica
6) Keynotes and characteristics with comparisons by H. C Allen
Author
By Dr Nikita Karale (MD-I)
Department of Medicine
