Bonitas Member Magazine B-Living Issue 2_2019 | Page 19

Common winter ailments
Winter is probably one of the most dreaded seasons. It is bitterly cold and at times characterised by
never-ending trips to the doctor’s room due to the cold and dry weather that affects your immune
system.
The common cold
This is the most likely illness that you or a member of
your family will encounter during the coming winter
months. Symptoms include a cough, runny nose, sore
throat and nasal congestion. The best way to treat a cold
is with time, as well as drinking plenty of fluids and rest.
But, make sure to avoid sugar-packed drinks like soda
rather opt for water and rooibos tea.
A sore throat
Extremely common during the colder months, a
sore throat is usually caused by viral infections. New
research has linked a sore throat to the change in body
temperature that takes place when you move from the
comfort of your warm house to the cold outdoors. In
addition to the usual symptoms, you may also experience
swollen lymph nodes, headaches and a high fever. Keep
warm saline water handy to ease the symptoms. Other
measures in managing a sore throat include drinking hot
teas, soups, etc. Some people feel relief with tablets and
spray readily available at any pharmacy.
Joint pain
If you are a sufferer of arthritis or chronic back and neck
pain, then this is a good time to give extra attention
to your joint health. A large number of people with
bone-related disorders have reported experiencing
‘more than the usual’ pain during the cold season.
Medical experts have not yet established the exact
reason behind this. The condition can be managed by
consulting a physiotherapist to help you better manage
the symptoms of joint pain through simple exercises and
massages.
If you are a Bonitas member and have arthritis or any
other chronic back and neck pain you can enrol for our
back and neck programme. The programme helps our
members who are living with chronic back and neck pain
to treat the cause of their pain and improve their quality
of life. Run by Documentation Based Care (DBC), the
programme incorporates the best protocols to improve
functional ability and work capability - successfully and
effectively - with minimum pain.
Dry skin
Chapped lips and dry skin are two of the most common
skin problems people experience during this season.
The low humidity levels combined with cold winds
form the perfect environment for your skin to become
dry. Excessively chapped lips can even start to bleed.
To prevent this, try using a lip balm and opt for good
moisturisers. Also, avoid using hot water for bathing, as
that can further aggravate symptoms of dry skin.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis leads to inflammation in your bronchioles.
Bronchioles are small passageways in the lungs that
help you breathe. In addition to breathing difficulties,
bronchitis also results in a sore throat, nasal congestion,
fever and dehydration. The symptoms are similar to that
of the common cold, but unlike the latter, they persist
for a longer duration. Severe cases of bronchitis may
require hospitalisation.
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