Top 5 Winter Season Hospitalizations
Did you know the emergency room can look completely different at different times of year? In the spring and summer, it’s filled with trauma cases from outdoor activities, but when the winter comes around… it’s RESPIRATORY SEASON!!
Respiratory Illness
The flu, RSV, pneumonia, COVID, and other respiratory illnesses thrive during the winter because of our weakened immune systems and indoor contact. Now is a great time to make sure you’re up-to-date on your vaccines for these illnesses. Additionally, make sure you wash your hands frequently and wear a mask if you or others in your family are feeling unwell!Asthma and COPD
Cold air combined with respiratory infections can trigger flare-ups of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If this applies to you, keep inhalers handy and use scarves to cover your mouth and nose to warm the air in cold weather. Be extra careful if you or someone you love is immunocompromised!Heart Attacks
This may be a surprise on this list because it’s not respiratory related! Cold weather raises blood pressure and therefore the risk of heart attacks. Make sure you dress warmly and avoid straining yourself in freezing weather if you’re at risk.
We’ve got one honorary mention: snowblower injuries!
These machines are a great way to clear snow without straining our backs, especially as we age, but mind your hands! Snowblowers have blades that can easily take off your fingers, feet, or hands, so if something gets stuck, make sure it’s turned off before you go touching it! Better yet, use a stick or tool instead of your hands! You wouldn’t reach into a running lawnmower to fix it, so don’t do it to snowblowers either!
4. Falls and Fractures
Trauma doesn’t completely disappear during the winter season! Icy walkways increase the risk of slip-and-fall injuries, while winter activities like skiing, snowboarding, and sledding can lead to fractures. Make sure you wear shoes with good traction, use handrails wherever they’re available, and wear protective gear for those outdoor activities! And if you do fall and hit your head, make sure you get it checked out as soon as possible—better safe than sorry, especially when it comes to the skull!
5. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
We talked about SAD in last week’s newsletter! It includes depressive symptoms that appear during the fall and winter because of reduced sunlight during the shorter winter days. Light therapy, time outdoors, and traditional depression treatments can be helpful if you or someone you know is experiencing SAD.
Got questions about winter illnesses? Want to make sure you or a loved one are protected this winter? I’m always here to help, just one call away!