It’s finally Autumn! The days are getting shorter, and the temperatures a little cooler. Autumn brings many wonderful things – beautiful foliage, festive holidays and pumpkin spice flavored treats. Along with every season’s benefits, there are also potential downfalls.
With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of 5 Common Autumn Health Risks that you should keep an eye out for, so that you or your aging loved one can better enjoy the fall season.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression caused by shorter days and colder weather. Depression can negatively impact a person’s sleep and diet which may contribute to other illnesses.
Light therapy, maintaining a healthy diet and staying active help fight common symptoms of SAD.
- Disrupted Sleep Cycle. Shorter days also disrupt your sleep cycle. Consistently getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most effective ways to keep your immune system healthy.
Try to go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time each day. Turning off the TV, smartphone, tablet and/or computer an hour before going to bed also helps your body prepare for restful sleep.
- Influenza. The number of flu cases starts to rise during the fall season. When temperatures drop and the days grow shorter, people spend more time inside which increases the likelihood of spreading the seasonal flu.
Make sure you and your family members are vaccinated and take precautions to minimize the spread of illness. Clients and staff members of AccuCare Home Health Care of St. Louis can receive their seasonal flu shot at no cost.
- Circulatory Problems. Symptoms of circulatory related illnesses also worsen when temperatures begin to drop. If you or someone you care for has heart disease, this sometimes causes an increase in chest pain. Make sure to consistently take any related medication.
If you care for someone with circulatory related illnesses like heart disease or Raynaud Syndrome, ask them if they’re experiencing any heightened discomfort.
- Joint Pain. Those who have arthritis or other join related pain often experience worse symptoms when temperatures drop and atmospheric pressure changes.
Keep appropriate pain relief medications on-hand. Regular exercise can also minimize joint pain.
We wish you a very happy and healthy fall season!
