Keep Warm, Keep Healthy

Preventing seasonal maladies – Harvard Health
Harvard Health
Apr 11, 2023 — Additionally, cold air reduces blood flow to the lining of the nose, throat, and lungs, which may dampen the immune system response,” says Dr.

Out in the Cold – Harvard Health Publications
Harvard Health
Jan 1, 2010 — Winter can be tough on the body, with increased rates of respiratory … cold temperatures suppresses the immune system, so the opportunities for …

Mayo Clinic Minute: Can cold weather cause a cold?
Mayo Clinic News Network
Jan 16, 2024 — “If you’re a little bit colder outside, your body’s immune system may just drop a little bit because it’s spending extra effort to keep you warm …

Surprising things that do (and don’t!) affect your immune …
GoHealth Urgent Care
Cold temperatures also cause blood vessels to constrict. When this happens, your respiratory tract gets fewer white blood cells that it needs to ward off …

New study links nose temperature and immune response
UCLA Health
Feb 17, 2023 — New research suggests the cause may be found within the human nose — specifically, that colder temperatures have an adverse effect on the efficacy of the …

Why colds and flu viruses are more common in winter
CNN
Dec 6, 2022 — “Cold air is associated with increased viral infection because you’ve essentially lost half of your immunity just by that small drop in …

Can the cold really make you sick?
www.heart.org
Dec 17, 2021 — And although laboratory research suggests cold temperatures can make immune cells less effective, Banks said in the end, viruses – not the cold …

Cold acclimation affects immune composition in skeletal …
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (.gov)
by AAJJ van der Lans · 2015 · Cited by 20 — Cold exposure coincides with hormonal changes, which may directly or indirectly alter the immune system, even in the skeletal muscle. The aim of the

Cold Weather Outdoor Play Boosts Immune System!
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
PDF
Strengthen immune system. Playing outside allows your child an escape from indoor germs and bacteria. This will not only be good for the healthy bunch; the sick.

Does exposure to cold and flu viruses weaken or …
The Guardian
Nov 19, 2022 — Exposure, little and often, may help to refresh the immune system’s memories of commonly circulating bugs.

Things That Suppress Your Immune System
WebMD
Mar 26, 2024 — Stress and worry aren’t great germ fighters. Just having anxious thoughts can weaken your immune response in as little as 30 minutes.

  • Lack of Sleep: That’s because your body can’t make as many infection-fighting cells and proteins called antibodies that help defend against illness. Your body releases certain proteins that help the immune system, called cytokines, only during sleep.
  • Anxiety
  • Low Vitamin D:
    • for strong bones and healthy blood cells
    • also helps boost immune system
    • eggs, fatty fish, and fortified foods like milk and cereal
    • sunlight is another key source
      • in the summer: just 5-15 minutes of rays on your hands, face, and arms 2-3 times a week usually is enough
      • in the winter, you might need a bit more
  • Too Few Fruits and Veggies:
    • to make more of the white blood cells you need to fight off infections
    • Fresh produce and nuts and seeds:
      • zinc, beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, and E, and other nutrients you need for a healthy body.
      • fiber, which helps lower your body fat percentage, which can strengthen your immune response
  • High-Fat Diet
    • Oils can hinder germ-fighting white blood cells
    • High fat diets over time can upset the balance of bacteria in your gut that can help immune response
  • Too Little Time Outdoors
    • Sunlight may energize special cells in your immune system called T-cells that help fight infection
  • Lack of Exercise
    • Regular aerobic exercise:
      • helps blood get around your body more efficiently, which means germ-fighting substances get where they need to go

Why winter makes you more vulnerable to colds
The Conversation
Dec 12, 2024 — How your immune system responds during cold weather also matters a great deal. Inhaling cold air may adversely affect the immune response in your respiratory tract, which makes it

Responding to the challenge of cold weather and winter
GOV.UK blogs
Oct 28, 2021 — Exposure to cold temperatures can increase blood pressure, suppress the immune system and make fighting infection more difficult.

Stay Warm, Stay Well: Why Heated Gear Is More Than Just …
Sustain Health Magazine
Apr 2, 2025 — Heated gloves and socks don’t just keep you cosy—they help boost circulation and give your overall wellbeing a quiet but effective lift. From …

How to keep warm this winter: cost-effective tips
British Red Cross
Jan 2, 2025 — Our bodies need to be kept at a core body temperature of 37C to stay healthy, which means rooms should be heated to a minimum of 18C. There …

Stay Warm and Healthy This Winter –
Highcliffe Medical Centre
Jan 9, 2025 — Eat well: Hot meals and drinks give your body energy to stay warm. Layer up: Wear warm clothes, even indoors, and sturdy shoes with good …

Keeping warm and well: staying safe in cold weather
GOV.UK
Mar 13, 2024 — This guidance provides advice for everyone on how to stay warm and well during winter. Anyone can become unwell if they get too cold.

Keeping warm and healthy this winter
MSD – Ministry of Social Development
Only heat the room that you are in. Try and keep the temperature between 18 and 21 degrees especially if you have babies, people with illnesses, or older people …