HealthInfo Canterbury
Winter wellness
Te oranga o takurua
Winter brings not only colder temperatures, but also an increase in coughs, colds, sore throats, tonsillitis, flu, and ear infections.
Cold weather can also cause serious health problems, particularly if you are older than 65, have a long-term (chronic) health condition, are disabled, or live in cold, damp, or over-crowded housing.
You can help to keep yourself and your family well this winter, by reading about common winter illnesses and learning what you can do to avoid or treat them.
Coughs and colds
Find out about what causes colds and how to manage the symptoms. You can also read about acute sinusitis.
Coughs are common in children, and more common during winter. Most coughs aren't anything to worry about, but any cough that lasts more than four weeks or happens with other problems (like a fever or difficulty breathing) need to be checked out by a health professional.
Croup is a viral illness that causes inflammation in a child's windpipe, and can cause a cough that often sounds like barking.
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is very serious in children under 2 years, and in particular in babies under 3 months old.
Bronchiolitis is a chest condition that affects breathing in babies. It is caused by a virus that is very contagious and is more common during winter and spring.
Acute bronchitis is a chest infection that is usually caused by a virus and follows a cold or flu. It usually gets better on its own, within one to three weeks. It can sometimes lead to pneumonia, which can be more serious.
Most winter infections and illnesses don't need to be treated with antibiotics as antibiotics don't work against viruses.
Flu (influenza)
Influenza, usually called the flu, is very different to a cold, but people often confuse these two conditions. Both are caused by viruses, but if you have the flu, you become much more unwell. It is especially risky for older people, children, pregnant women, and those with long-term health problems. Even younger healthy people can become seriously unwell with the flu. You can reduce your chance of getting the flu by getting a flu vaccination.
Fingers and toes
Cold weather can affect people's arms, legs, fingers and toes, causing chilblains and a disorder called Raynaud syndrome (which makes your fingers and toes change colour and become painful).
What you can do to stay well this winter
There are several things you can do to help keep yourself and your family well during the colder months.
- Keep warm both indoors and outdoors. Read tips about keeping your home warm and dry, including information on what financial help you might be able to get.
- Practise good hygiene to avoid picking up and passing on the bugs that cause winter illnesses. Make sure you know how to wash your hands properly, and how to cover your coughing and sneezing.
- Get the flu vaccination for you and your family. It makes it much less likely you'll catch the flu or become very sick if you do catch it.
- Stop the spread of germs at home – read tips for cleaning, hand washing, and caring for your family when someone is sick.
- Eat well and keep active to maintain your overall health.
If you live alone and become unwell over winter, don't be afraid to ask your neighbours for help.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed June 2021.
Sources
Review key: HIWIN-93622
