Hoshiarpur- In view of the continuously increasing cold, Civil Surgeon Hoshiarpur Dr. Pawan Kumar Shagotra has issued a detailed advisory. It is noteworthy that the temperature is falling and prolonged exposure to cold increases the possibility of many diseases like flu, runny nose, hypothermia, frostbite etc.
Giving more information about the advisory issued by the department to protect themselves from such cold weather, Civil Surgeon Dr. Pawan Kumar said that people should fully follow the instructions of the Health Department to protect themselves from the coming cold wave. He said that cold wave is considered when the minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or less for plain areas and 0 degrees Celsius or less for hilly areas.
He said that prolonged exposure to cold increases the possibility of many diseases like flu, runny nose, contact the doctor for such symptoms. Stay indoors as much as possible during cold wave and minimise travel to avoid exposure to cold air. Wear loose-fitting and multi-layered clothes. Tight clothes reduce blood circulation.
Wear warm woollen multi-layered clothes that protect against wind instead of a single layer of clothes. Keep yourself dry. If wet, cover your head, neck, hands and toes properly as these body parts suffer the most in winters.
Wear mittens instead of gloves, gloves provide more warmth and insulation, as fingers share their heat and are less exposed to cold, use hats and mufflers to prevent heat loss, wear insulated/waterproof shoes. Eat healthy food to keep body temperature balanced. Eat vitamin C rich fruits, honey, jaggery and seasonal vegetables to maintain adequate immunity. Drink warm fluids regularly, as it will maintain body heat to fight cold.
Moisturize your skin regularly with oil, petroleum jelly or body cream, take care of the elderly and children. Prolonged exposure to cold can cause the skin to turn pale, hard and numb, and black blisters to appear on exposed parts of the body and consult a doctor immediately. Look for signs of frostbite such as numbness in fingers, toes, earlobes and tip of the nose, white or yellow appearance on exposure to cold wave.
Treat the areas affected by frostbite with lukewarm (not hot) water. Excessive exposure to cold can cause hypothermia - a drop in body temperature that can cause slurred speech, drowsiness, muscle stiffness and difficulty breathing. Hypothermia is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Seek medical help as soon as possible for anyone suffering from hypothermia/frostbite, including symptoms of a runny nose.