Seasonal Health Tips To Help You Stay Healthy! Dr. Rosado explains how to stay healthy.
Have you ever heard of “seasonal depression?” The seasonal affective disorder is more common than you may think and people can suffer from it from fall until springtime. The weather can truly bring our mood down, as we tend to be cooped up when it’s cold outside. Thankfully, here in Florida, it is not as bad as other states in the US but it surprising is still an issue.
When the seasons change, you’re also more likely to get viruses and colds, especially if you suffer from allergies. And yes, Florida is a top for all types of allergies being a sub-tropical environment. To fight seasonal depression, illness, and allergies, there are several things you can do to improve your health as the seasons begin to change. Below, we highlight our top ways to stay healthy!
I always tell my patients to be mindful of the seasonal changes and how they can affect their overall health. I recommend you schedule an appointment for everyone in your family to ensure that everyone remains healthy.
– Dr. Rosado, Primary Care & Author
Get Fresh Air
Although we Floridians love to embrace the winter months because it does give us a break from all the heat, many of us look forward to not so cold and not so hot temperatures of the spring. Even if the weather remains a bit chilly or warm – open a window to let the air circulate throughout your home. This way you can breathe in some quality fresh air that you missed out on during the extreme heat of the summer months.
Try to eat more seasonal foods
Okay, so we all know that proper nutrition is important. But throughout the year consider switching things up by cooking with locally-grown seasonal foods. These foods can provide many benefits such as improving your immune system and digestion.
Vitamin C, A, and folate all help build up your immune system plus locally grown foods also help with allergy issues. The most popular local grown option would be honey – as local honey bees make the honey which can help strengthen your allergy-related issues.
Also, make sure to include a variety of fruits and veggies to your plate like citrus, red bell pepper, broccoli, spinach, and kiwis for added immune-boosting benefits. Again, another popular choice here in Florida would be locally grown Oranges. You can even grow some citrus trees on your property as well.
Drink Plenty of Water
Pretty much in any month here in Florida, this is super important. Why? in the cooler months heat sources from home heaters and fireplaces can cause dry, itchy, or damaged skin. Remedy this by using humidifiers, moisturizers, and wear moisture-wicking clothing. Furthermore, don’t skimp on drinking water!
Also, the winter months produce drier air, so maintaining a proper intake of water will help combat skin problems and dehydration. Increase your water intake by purchasing a reusable 16 oz water bottle and drink the contents four times a day.
During the rest of the year here in Florida, we have high humidity which causes us to sweat easily. When you sweat your body releases water in the form of sweat. So, it is critical to drink water throughout the day and refresh your body. If you work outside, we suggest filling up a cooler with ice and water to keep your body cool while working outdoors.
Fight The Germs
Flu season never really ends, it just seems to repeat once a year with a new flu variant. So if you haven’t gotten a flu shot, there’s still time. Getting your flu shot each year helps build up your body’s defense from a strong strain of the flu virus.
So consider stopping into a walk-in clinic location to get this critical vaccination to ensure you don’t get sick with Influenza.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, make sure to pay attention to the weather, prepare for your allergies with over-the-counter medication, or visit your provider to have an allergy skin test and discuss other prescribed allergy options, like shots or tablets, to reduce your symptoms.
Fight germs by carrying hand sanitizer with you and disinfecting germ-filled places in your home and office such as doorknobs, phones, computers, and keyboards. You can also stop the spread of germs by coughing and sneezing into a tissue and washing your hands regularly as well.
Stay Active
As the extreme heat keeps us indoors during the summer months, people often live a more sedentary lifestyle. Being sedentary means not being active and this has health consequences. So to reduce the risk of sitting too much, try a new exercise routine to get your body moving!
Did you know that the American Heart Association recommends “150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity or a combination of both preferably spread throughout the week.”? It is true! They do plenty of health-related studies to know that active people live healthier and longer lives.
Moderate activities include brisk walking, dancing, gardening, tennis, and biking; and vigorous activities include hiking, running, swimming, cycling, and jumping rope. Some activities are better off done in the early morning or later in the day once the temperature drops. And, as the weather starts to cool off, these activities will be much more enjoyable to do outdoors in the middle of the day.
Speak to your physician before taking any new supplements.
Are you one of the millions of Americans who take vitamins or other supplements? It is an expensive proposition – and not always the wisest choice for your health. While bodybuilding and weight loss supplements cause a good number of those emergencies, other supplements can create health problems as well.
At every visit, it is important to let your healthcare provider know about all over-the-counter medicines, supplements, and herbal remedies you take, especially if you are also taking prescription medicines.
I hope this article helped you learn a little more about Dr. Joseph Rosado and shared the answers with you. If you want to learn more about this schedule an appointment with Dr. Rosado or purchase his book on Amazon.
