As winter approaches, the chances of catching common respiratory ailments start increasing. Many people fall prey to cold, cough, flu, and other respiratory infections during this season. The reason is that viruses thrive in cold weather conditions. The stability, lifespan, and replication ability of viruses increase when temperature and humidity are low. Sometimes the respiratory infection can get as serious as pneumonia. You could even require hospitalisation for treatment. It helps to have the financial security of a health insurance plan in such extreme cases. It will ensure you don't have to pay the likely tall healthcare costs as the insurance company steps in to do so. You feel a lot relieved with this support coming from health insurance. So, buy it and at the best terms fast.
10 Ways to Keep the Family Healthy This Winter
While layering yourself with warm sweaters and jackets is necessary, that's not all you need to do to stay healthy during winters. Adopting certain healthy practices can ensure your entire family's safety in the winter. Here are some tips to help you and your family prepare for happy and healthy winters.
1. Buy Health Insurance for Your Family
A family floater health insurance plan is one of the best ways to protect your family and finances. This plan provides insurance coverage against a yearly premium for all family members. Think of it as one big umbrella that protects your family. Different family floater plans will have a different scope of coverage. While some may cover only you, your partner, and your kids, others may have a broader scope that includes other dependents too. An important thing to note about these plans is that if your parents are over the age of 60 or 65 (ask your insurer), they may need special coverage. You can discuss getting the appropriate health insurance plan for your parents with your insurance company.
2. Do Some Physical Activity Every Day
It's not uncommon to feel too lazy to work out during winter. As tempted as you may be to lounge around all day, you should make it a point to exercise daily. Take any physical activity you prefer and spend some time doing it daily. Exercising improves your immune system, heart, mental well-being, metabolism, and joints. It's a natural way to keep your body warm. You can also exercise outdoors if you like, for the added benefits of sunlight and fresh air.
3. Remember That Hydration is Vital
It's easy to remember and drink water when it's hot during the summers and you're sweating. In winters, not so much. But your body also requires sufficient water intake during the winter season. From detoxification to energy maintenance, water offers numerous health benefits that can make it easier to go through winters. If you don't feel like drinking too much water on its own, you can have it in the form of soups and herbal teas. Sipping on warm beverages like these helps increase water consumption and feels quite relaxing and warm.
4. Be More Proactive Than Reactive
When it comes to health, it always pays to be more proactive. The sooner you recognise an underlying issue, the sooner you can get the appropriate treatment. You can stay on top of your health through timely medical check-ups and catch a problem before it becomes grave. Therefore, it's wise to go for comprehensive health check-ups at least once a year.
If you're worried about the expenses of these tests, know that your health insurance plan probably covers them. One of the key health insurance benefits is coverage for common tests like ECG, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc. You can discuss with your insurance company to know the exact tests available in the coverage and how frequently you can go for them.
5. Enjoy Outdoors from Time to Time
You might feel apprehensive about stepping out into the cold weather, wanting to stay within your home's warm, comforting space. But viruses get transmitted quickly within small, confined places. Therefore, you can't avoid falling sick by being indoors all the time. You also need your daily dose of vitamin D for a healthy immune system. Stepping out now and then can help you get the much-needed time in the sun. Safe sunlight exposure (using sunscreen) is vital for your health, and you should enjoy it as much as possible.
6. Play in the Snow With Caution
Do you live in a place that receives snowfall? Or are you planning a vacation in some snow-capped mountains? Partaking in snow activities like snowboarding, trekking, or skiing can be quite fun. But, if you don't perform these activities cautiously, you also risk seriously injuring yourself. Therefore, only enjoy these activities after receiving proper training or under professional guidance. Make sure to put on all the essential safety gear as well. Most importantly, buy health insurance before participating in such potentially risky adventure activities. You want to ensure that your medical expenses are covered in the worst-case scenarios.
7. Sleep in to Feel Stronger
Winter is the perfect time to sleep in. But getting sufficient sleep during winters isn't just about leisure; it's about keeping your body healthy too. Proper rest is critical for the immune system to function well. Over-exhaustion can affect the immune system's ability to fight off infections. Make sure to establish a regular bedtime routine in your home. This will help maintain a consistent sleep and wake-up cycle.
8. Practice Good Personal and Home Hygiene
Whenever you return home from outside, wash your hands thoroughly using soap and water to ensure you kill any germs you might have brought along. You also want to clean and disinfect the house from time to time. Focus on commonly touched surfaces and areas like kitchen countertops, door handles, tv remote, etc. If you have young kids playing with plastic toys, you should disinfect those regularly. Encourage your kids to follow good personal hygiene habits as well.
9. Enjoy a Diet Rich in Protein and Omega-3
It's crucial to maintain a nutritious diet during winter. You should be careful about including enough protein and omega-3 in your diet. While protein helps with muscle-building and metabolism, omega-3 helps reduce inflammation and maintain good joint health (much needed in winter). Some good protein sources are eggs, quinoa, dairy products, fish, meat, etc. For omega-3, you have options like flax seeds, fatty fish, walnuts, etc.
10. Avoid the Stress With Relaxing Activities
It's common to feel stress and low energy during winters. The reduced sunlight in this season can be blamed for that. In addition to physical health, you should be vigilant toward your and your family's mental health too. Plan fun activities for the family that give you all a chance to come together and enjoy each other's company. Encourage everyone to be open and communicative about how they're feeling during this time.
Conclusion
The winter season brings with it much joy but also increases susceptibility to multiple possible health problems. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy this beautiful season. With a bit of caution and preparedness, you can ensure good health even during winters. Lastly, you should have a health insurance plan as a solid backup in case you encounter any serious health concerns.
To easily buy health insurance online, visit the Paytm insurance broking platform. Compare health insurance plans to evaluate the advantages and restrictions of each and decide what's best for your family.
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