Winter is a time where many families slow down their routines and focus on getting through the season. Your priorities may shift, but one priority that shouldn’t shift is your dedication to keeping your family healthy. After all, it’s important they remain healthy during the season where the spread of illnesses tends to ramp up.
Between holiday celebrations and illnesses going around, how are you supposed to keep your family healthy during the winter months? Here are five ways to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy this winter.
Inspect Your Home
Your home is a place your family should feel safe in. However, there could be underlying issues that impact the safety of your home and compromise your loved ones’ health. That’s why it’s essential that you inspect your home during the winter months. Test your home’s air quality, your chimney, and make sure your smoke detectors are working properly.
One of the most important things to test your home for is radon. Radon is an odorless, tasteless, and colorless gas that naturally develops from the earth. Even though it’s naturally occurring, too much radon can do serious damage to your lungs. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. You can buy a radon testing kit at the hardware store if you’re inspecting it on your own or you can hire a professional to conduct the test.
Go To The Doctor If You’re Sick
A basic way to keep your family healthy during the winter is to go to the doctor if you’re sick. Illnesses spread quickly, so if you get sick, it may not be long before your kids and spouse get sick, too. The CDC estimates that adults have two to three colds each year, but some illnesses have similar symptoms as colds do. If you’re symptomatic (especially as the coronavirus pandemic continues), go to the doctor to determine what’s wrong, how you can get better, and what you can do to keep your family healthy.
Be Safe On The Roads
Another way to keep your loved ones healthy during the winter is to be safe on the roads. Annually, there are around 5.5 million car accidents in the United States. Your chances of getting into an accident during the winter months could increase, especially since it gets darker out sooner and winter weather can cause slippery roads. Always be cautious while driving to reduce your risk of getting into a crash and compromising the health of your loved ones.
Keep The Family Active
Keeping your loved ones active during the winter is essential for their health. There are activities for the whole family that can be done during the winter. These activities include ice skating and sledding. Be sure the activity you’re doing doesn’t do more harm than good, though. The activity may seem like a good idea at first but can overextend your family’s physical abilities. For instance, a human lifting a 10 kilogram box puts approximately 180 kilograms of force on their spine. If that’s too much force for you or a loved one, make sure you’re aware of that and adjust your physical activity.
Stick To a Healthy Diet
You can easily get busy during the winter months and let life dictate your family’s diet. Between the holidays and the natural attraction to warm comfort food, a healthy meal can be put on the backburner. However, it’s important to keep your family’s diet healthy throughout the winter months. Make sure you provide plenty of vegetables, fruit, lean protein, and healthy fats. The better the diet, the healthier your family will be.
Winter is a time where many families hunker down and slow things down a bit. However, something you shouldn’t slow down is the dedication to having a healthy family. If you follow the right tips and keep healthy habits, your family’s health will be in good shape this winter.
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