WINTER'S MINOR DISCOMFORTS DON'T NEED TO GET YOU DOWN

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, January 7, 1992                   TAG: 9201070217
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Jane Brody
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long
WINTER'S MINOR DISCOMFORTS DON'T NEED TO GET YOU DOWN
Winter has more than its share of petty annoyances that people can do little or nothing about. But many of the distressing aspects of the dark cold months ahead can be mitigated by knowledge, forethought and simple preventive measures.
While you may be at the mercy of transportation systems that bog down in ice and snow, you need not be plagued, for example, by brittle skin or respiratory infections that just won't quit.
The following facts and tips can reduce your risk of pesky health problems, relieve unwarranted concerns and help you get the most out of life in the cold weeks to come.
\ Colds, flu, allergies
Wet heads and weather changes do not make you sick.
Some years ago researchers put the old wives' tale about chills and colds to the test. They divided volunteers into two groups, subjecting some to bone-chilling baths before exposing them to cold viruses. Those who were chilled were no more likely to catch cold than those who stayed toasty warm.
And those who were not exposed to the virus did not get sick, even if they were stressed by the cold bath.
Colds and flu are caused by viruses, not by drafts, chills or frequent temperature changes. People do, however, tend to be more susceptible to colds in winter, in part because cold viruses are more likely to take hold when the nasal area is cool and because people tend to spend more time indoors in closer contact with others who may carry cold viruses.
But to make you sick, the viruses must gain access to the mucous membranes of the nose or eyes.
Cold viruses rarely spread through the air.
They are hand-delivered, usually by touching the hands of someone with a cold or touching a surface or object recently handled by a cold victim. A cheek-to-cheek kiss is less likely than a handshake or virus-contaminated telephone to spread a cold.
Winter-long "colds" are often allergies.
Most people with allergies rejoice when winter's chill winds end the pollen season, but those allergic to mold spores and dust mites can have more severe symptoms in winter, when exposure to these common household allergens is often higher.
Heating systems, especially hot-air vents and wood-burning stoves with blowers, can send spores and mites wafting into the air and trigger allergies. Cold-mist humidifiers used to reduce winter dryness can become breeding grounds for molds despite frequent cleaning.
To diminish the discomfort of winter allergies, use foam pillows and put dustproof coverings on all bedding. Wash bed linens and night clothes in hot water (above 130 degrees) to kill dust mites.
Avoid putting rugs and carpets in the bedroom and keep pets out of the bedroom.
If you must add moisture to the air, do not exceed 35 percent humidity. Use a steam vaporizer (organisms cannot survive in the boiled water) or one of the newer humidifiers that uses a process called film boiling and has a filter for purifying incoming air (Clean Mist by Bionaire, for example).
\ Skin problems
You can reduce winter itch and dryness.
Both a lack of adequate moisture in the air and excessive bathing are prime causes of dry, itchy skin in winter.
During heating season, daily use of a moisturizer product is more important than daily bathing, according to Dr. Sheryl Clark, a dermatologist affiliated with the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center.
Take brief showers and baths, use mild soap and use tepid water, since hot water is more drying. Most people need not soap their entire body every time they bathe.
Don't lick dry lips; that dries them even more. Keep hand lotion at home and at work and use it as often as possible.
Do not overheat your home or sit for long periods in front of a fire or heater. The higher the indoor temperature, the lower the humidity is likely to be. Instead of pushing up the thermostat, wear more clothing indoors and use an extra blanket.
\ Depression
Winter need not get you down.
You don't have to have a full-blown depressive disorder to find yourself feeling a little blue in winter. Scientists have linked the problem to the shortened hours of daylight, which lead to hormonal disturbances and depression, and given it a name: seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.
The problem is often exacerbated by reluctance to spend time outdoors on cold winter days or by leaving for work before dawn and coming home after dark.
Viral infections are another common cause of winter depression. And the aftermath of winter influenza often includes a mild depression that can take weeks to dissipate.
To combat SAD, get out in the daylight for 45 minutes to an hour every day. Early morning is best for most people, but lunchtime is better than nothing. For example, my husband and I ice skate at an outdoor rink five mornings a week, which has helped to relieve his winter depressions, as has walking the dog for an hour in the morning.
Indoors, his desk is illuminated by a full-spectrum fluorescent bulb that imitates sunlight.
Physicians who treat patients seriously impaired by SAD prescribe such light therapy for up to three hours a day. The New York Times

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB