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You’ll Have A Harder Time Breathing In The Cold
When you’re in cold weather, take a deep breath, and you’ll realize that your body isn’t quite prepared for it – your lungs feel like they’re shrinking up in self-defense! It’s not just the chill in the air that affects your breathing – colder temperatures cause air to become much denser.
While getting used to the chilly climate can be challenging, don’t let your respiratory system get caught off-guard again – preparation is key! That means each inhalation packs less oxygen than usual, leading to difficulty breathing, chest tightness, and exhaustion with physical activity. To keep your lungs clear and healthy during the winter, bundle up when going outside and stay extra hydrated with warm liquids.
Cold Weather Can Denature Certain Enzymes
When cold weather strikes, it’s not just humans that feel the chill. Enzymes, which are classed as proteins and facilitate chemical reactions in the body, can also be denatured in cold temperatures. It turns out that even a subtle temperature change can cause enzymes to lose their structural integrity, meaning they can no longer function as they were designed to. It is enough to give anyone the cold shoulder! Of course, certain enzymes are designed to combat this problem, but for most everyday bodily processes, it’s best to stay warm.
Your Body Burns More Calories To Stay Warmed Up
It’s no surprise that your bodies need to work harder to maintain your warmth when it gets colder outside. Whenever the temperature drops, it puts the body into an ‘auto-pilot’ mode of burning more energy to keep yourself warm and cozy.
Our metabolism increases because the body needs to find more energy sources as we get exposed to this chillier atmosphere. As you move around, you generate more heat through your muscle activity, allowing you to stay comfortable inside or outdoors in the cold weather. With all of these mechanisms in play, it’s clear that Mother Nature knows how to look after you – and she’s got a great way of ensuring you keep burning calories even in winter!
The Cold Can Cause Dry Eyes
If your eyes feel dryer than usual in wintertime, it may have something to do with the cold. With colder weather in full swing, you might feel the effects in more ways than one! Believe it or not, low temperatures and cold air can cause an increase in evaporative tear loss — think of it as the hairdryer effect for your eyes.
This escalation of tear evaporation is from a drop in air humidity, which is common during colder temperatures. While the effect won’t harm your eyes, if left unchecked, it could lead to discomfort over time. So bundle up, and don’t forget to pop in some artificial tears before heading out into the chill!
You Lose Less Water When It’s Cold Outside
The cold weather certainly has its perks! Not only does it keep you bundled up and warm, but it also prevents you from losing too much water. When the temperature is low, you perspire less than when it’s hot outside.
This means that your bodies aren’t under as much stress to replenish lost moisture, consequently reducing your need to drink lots of liquids while out in the cold. So while grabbing a cup of hot cocoa may be great for warming up chilly hands, don’t forget that you don’t need nearly as much as you think – unless you want to take a winter swim in the snow!
Stay Safe In The Cold!
Make sure that you bundle up before going out into the winter weather and do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle overall. With colder temperatures comes an increased risk of certain conditions and diseases, especially in kids and the elderly. Avoiding dehydration is essential all year round, particularly during cold spells. And don’t forget that the first line of defense against infections and diseases is a good old-fashioned flu shot. You’ll be glad you did!