As the winter is getting harsher, it is making people a little lethargic. But carelessness may be risky in this season, cautions Dr. RP Parasher, Chief Medical Officer (Ayurveda), Municipal Corporation of Delhi

The spell of cold waves has become lengthy this winter season. Short term appearance of the sun these days has proved to be a sigh of relief, but carelessness may prove risky, even fatal for elders and those suffering from asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases.

Not only children, elders and patients, but the youngsters too are prone to cold and infections due to unexpected weather conditions. People deprived of direct sun due to the location of their houses are at more risk because temperature in their houses remains much lower than the outside temperature.

Patients with cough, cold flu, pneumonia, COPD, heart attack, brain stroke, etc. have increased significantly during the past one month. Temperature between 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. remains minimum in winter, leading to constriction of blood capillaries and high blood pressure which causes heart attacks and brain strokes.

People suffering from diabetes, arthritis, hypertension and heart diseases need extra care. Apart from the lower level of mercury, pollution is at a dangerous level in Delhi NCR making the conditions worse, especially for patients suffering from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. It is advisable not to go for a morning walk these days and it is better to go for a walk during noon only.

Elders and patients should keep their rooms warm as heart attacks occur mainly during early morning hours due to constriction of blood capillaries. Such people should dip their feet in warm water for ten to fifteen minutes before going to bed at night and the temperature of water should be between 42 degree to 48 degree Celsius.

It will avert constriction of blood vessels and rising blood pressure.

In this season, avoid food items of cold nature like rice, curd, buttermilk, ice cream, cauliflower, refrigerated items, lady finger, bitter gourd, peas, pigeon pea (arhar daal), etc.

It is advised to consume garlic, spinach, chenopodium or white goose foot (bathua), mustard (sarson), Fenugreek (methi), red lentils (masoor daal), etc. these days. Tulsi, ginger, clove, black pepper, piper longum (small pippali), cinnamon bark, etc. should be taken twice or thrice daily and boiled in milk or tea.

Turmeric, dates and raisins boiled in milk help keep the body warm.  Hot vegetable soups will provide nutrition as well as warmth. Drinking warm water provides warmth, treats inflammation of the throat and regulates the digestive system. Herbs like giloy, mulethi, vasa, amla, joofa, kantkari, etc. should be used with honey, if caught by cough and cold.

Ayurvedic medicines like Chyavanprash, Vasa avleha, Agastya Haritki,  etc are helpful in averting as well as treating the complications of cough and cold. Sudershan ghan vati, laxmivilas ras, kafketu ras, mrityunjay ras, sanjeewan vati, trilokya chintyamani ras, etc. are drugs of choice for pneumonia and other respiratory diseases. Daily bath with warm water and massage with sesame oil or mustard oil improves the blood circulation. Room heating may be done with caution keeping in view ventilation and hydration of the body.