9 common misconceptions about how to protect your health in winter

Want to stay warmer this winter? Avoid these common health myths first!

Cold air can make you sick

Although winter is cold, cold weather does not actually cause colds, as many people think. In fact, the opposite is true. The cells that fight infection in your body increase in number when you go outside in the cold. This is your body's way of dealing with the stress caused by cold temperatures.

Additionally, cold viruses thrive best when temperatures fall around 30 degrees Celsius, meaning cold viruses are less likely to be active at lower temperatures.

You should not exercise in cold weather.

Many people find it difficult to get out of bed and exercise in the cold. But according to a study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise, your run will be shorter in cold weather and you can burn more calories in less time. In addition, if you exercise at a faster intensity in cold weather, your body will also produce more endorphins – neurotransmitters that bring about feelings of happiness, relaxation and pain relief.

In fact, according to a review in Environmental Science and Technology, just going outside in the winter can increase your endorphin levels a little bit. So if you don’t want to gain weight and feel better this winter, don’t be afraid to go out and exercise!

Allergies will go away when winter comes

Allergies may be the real cause of your stuffy nose and scratchy throat in the winter (not the cold weather). According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 1 in 5 people have indoor or outdoor allergies, and people with indoor allergies tend to have worse allergies in the winter. When winter comes, your pets go outside less, you keep your windows closed to keep out the cold (which can cut off air circulation), and mold grows more in the winter.

These are all things that can make your allergies worse. If your symptoms last longer than 10 days or if they get better with antihistamines, it may be time to see an allergist.

No need to use sunscreen

Because the Earth's surface is closer to the sun during the winter months, we're actually exposed to more harmful UV rays without even realizing it. Plus, in areas with snow and ice, snow and ice can reflect about 80 percent of harmful UV rays, doubling your skin's exposure to these rays, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Therefore, even in winter, you should still remember to take measures to protect your skin from the risk of cancer.

Lack of sunlight causes depression

Although the lack of sunlight is not the real cause, there are many factors that come with these days that can contribute to winter depression. For example, holidays and winter vacations. Winter is also the end of the year, many people's work will become busier, along with the daily stress in the family and the worries and calculations when Tet and the new year are approaching are the causes of winter depression.

According to statistics, about 5% of adults are affected by depression and moodiness in winter.

Women will gain about 5kg in winter

In winter, with its warm food, gloomy weather and warm blankets, it is not surprising that women gain weight. But, on average, a woman only gains about 0.5-1kg during the whole winter.

However, according to a study in the journal Nutrition Reviews, the weight gained during the six weeks of winter and holiday breaks in the US accounts for about 51% of the total weight women gain each year.

According to another study in the New England Journal of Medicine, most women do not gain weight suddenly when winter comes, but rather gradually throughout the year. And maybe when winter comes, women will pay more attention to their weight.

Vitamin C helps prevent colds

This is a myth that is half true. Getting the recommended daily dose of 75 mg of vitamin C is important for maintaining a healthy immune system to prevent and fight off colds, according to a 2013 study at the University of Helsinki. Other studies have also shown that taking high doses of vitamin C at the first signs of a cold may (just may) help shorten the duration and severity of a cold.

Cold temperatures cause hair loss

Cold weather can actually help reduce hair loss. In a study at the University Hospital of Zurich, researchers followed 823 women for six years and found that they lost the most hair in the summer and the least in the winter. This may sound counterintuitive at first, but the real cause of winter hair loss is the scalp.

During the winter, your scalp can become dry, which can cause your hair to grow less healthy and break more easily. If you find that your scalp is more itchy during the winter, consider investing in a shampoo that protects against dry scalps, and you may find that your hair loss improves.

Will lose most of the body heat through the head and face

Contrary to the findings of a 1950s study by the US military, most of the body’s heat does not escape through the head in winter. In that study, the participants traveled to the Arctic with bare heads, while the rest of their bodies were covered in protective clothing against the cold, so it makes sense that most of the heat would be lost through the head.

The same goes for any other part of your body. If you go out in the winter without gloves, you will lose a lot of heat through your hands. To be fair, the amount of heat lost through your head is just as much as the amount of heat lost through any other part of your body.

According to Vietnam.net