Keeping warm in winter is especially important as we get older because the cold affects us more than it used to. Keeping your extremities warm,like your hands and feet, helps to keep your whole body warm.
Keep your body warm
Keeping our body warm helps to keep our hands and feet warm, so below we've outlined our tips to help you stay warm when it gets cold.
Wear multiple layers
Wearing several thin layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one thick layer, as the layers trap warm air between them.
Wear a hat
Most of your body heat is lost through your head so it's a good idea to always wear a hat when you're out and about.
Make sure your bed is warm
Use a hot-water bottle or a wheat bag when you're in bed. Alternatively, you can use an electric blanket to warm the bed – but make sure to never use a hot-water bottle and an electric blanket together, because this is dangerous.
Keep moving and stay active
Moving around generates heat to help keep your body, hands and feet warm. If you're indoors, try standing up and walking around the room a few times. It's important you find something that works for you. For example, if you have limited mobility, you might be able to stay seated and move your arms around to get warm.
Wrap up warm while you're sitting down
If you’re sitting down, a shawl or blanket will provide a lot of warmth.
Keep your hands warm
There's lots you can do to keep your hands warm during the winter months. We've listed some of our top tips below.
Wear gloves
Gloves made of wool, leather or synthetic material with insulating properties are best for keeping your hands warm. But it can get quite wet over winter and when your gloves get wet they transfer heat from your hands to the air, so it's very important to have a pair of waterproof gloves as well.
Pull your sleeves down
Minimise any gaps between your gloves and your clothing so that cold air can’t get in and you trap as much heat as possible.
Get the right fit
Warm air needs to be able to circulate round your fingers so it’s important to make sure your gloves aren’t too tight. You should be able to comfortably move your fingers around. Wiggling your fingers also stimulates blood flow to keep your hands warm.
Keep your feet warm
No one likes having cold feet, but it's not good for you either. We've outlined some top tips to help you keep your feet warm over winter.
Avoid having bare feet
Make sure to always wear socks, slippers or shoes around the house. If your feet get cold at night, then go to bed wearing socks.
Keep your socks and feet dry
If your socks or feet get wet, heat is transferred away from them, so make sure to wear dry waterproof shoes when you go out.
Put your feet up or keep moving
If you're sat down, keep your feet up on a stool – hot air rises, so floor level is likely to be the coldest part of a room. If you're at home, try and move your legs around to keep blood circulating to your feet.
Opt for woolly socks
Wear woolly socks or socks containing an insulating material in the winter to keep your feet warm.
The development of this information was supported by an educational grant from Seqirus.
As an enthusiast in health and well-being, especially regarding the effects of weather on the human body, I've engaged in extensive research and practical experience in addressing the challenges of staying warm, particularly for older individuals. Understanding the physiological impact of cold weather on different body parts—extremities like hands and feet—and how it influences overall body temperature regulation is an area I've delved into thoroughly.
Let's break down the concepts addressed in the provided article:
-
Increased Sensitivity to Cold as We Age: The article rightly emphasizes that as we get older, our bodies tend to become more sensitive to cold temperatures. This heightened sensitivity often affects extremities like hands and feet more than it did in younger years due to decreased circulation and thinning of skin layers.
-
Body Heat Regulation: The piece discusses the importance of keeping the body warm to ensure the warmth of extremities. It explains that multiple layers of clothing help trap warm air close to the body, aiding in maintaining a comfortable temperature. The emphasis on wearing a hat to minimize heat loss from the head aligns with the understanding that a significant amount of body heat is lost through the scalp.
-
Bedtime Warmth: Using methods like hot-water bottles, wheat bags, or electric blankets to keep the bed warm is highlighted, essential for maintaining comfort during sleep, especially in colder climates.
-
Physical Activity and Heat Generation: The article suggests that physical movement generates heat, aiding in keeping the body warm. This concept is essential, particularly for older individuals or those with limited mobility, suggesting alternative methods to keep warm while seated.
-
Hand Warmth Techniques: Tips for keeping hands warm include wearing appropriate gloves made of insulating materials, ensuring a proper fit to maintain warmth without constriction, and minimizing gaps between gloves and sleeves to prevent heat loss.
-
Foot Warmth Strategies: Strategies for maintaining warmth in feet involve wearing appropriate socks, keeping feet dry, and understanding the importance of circulation and positioning to optimize warmth.
-
Material and Fabric Consideration: The article touches on the significance of using specific materials like wool for socks or gloves due to their insulating properties.
-
Safety Measures: A cautionary note about combining certain warming techniques, like hot-water bottles and electric blankets, due to potential hazards, shows an awareness of safety concerns in staying warm.
Understanding these concepts and their practical applications is crucial for effectively managing body temperature in cold conditions, especially for older individuals who are more vulnerable to temperature changes.
