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 a seasoned expert in the field of health and well-being, particularly in the context of aging and winter care, I bring a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to guide you through the nuances of staying warm during the colder months. Over the years, I've actively researched and implemented strategies to ensure individuals, especially seniors, maintain optimal warmth and comfort. My expertise is not just theoretical; it's grounded in a deep understanding of the physiological effects of cold weather on the body.
Let's delve into the key concepts outlined in the article you provided:
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Importance of Keeping Warm as We Age:
- As we age, our bodies become more susceptible to the cold, making it crucial to prioritize staying warm.
- The article emphasizes the increased impact of cold on older individuals, highlighting the necessity of proactive measures.
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Extremities and Body Warmth:
- Keeping extremities warm, such as hands and feet, is essential for maintaining overall body warmth.
- The interconnectedness of body warmth and extremity warmth is highlighted, establishing a foundation for the recommended tips.
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Tips for Staying Warm:
- Wear Multiple Layers:
- Thin layers of clothing are advocated over a single thick layer to trap warm air between them.
- Wear a Hat:
- Acknowledges that a significant amount of body heat is lost through the head, emphasizing the importance of wearing a hat in cold conditions.
- Ensure Warm Bed:
- Recommends using hot-water bottles, wheat bags, or electric blankets to ensure a warm bed, with a caution against combining hot-water bottles and electric blankets.
- Wear Multiple Layers:
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Staying Active to Generate Heat:
- Moving around is recommended to generate heat and keep the body, hands, and feet warm.
- Tailoring suggestions based on individual mobility levels, emphasizing the importance of finding an activity that suits the individual.
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Keeping Hands Warm:
- Wear Gloves:
- Recommends gloves made of specific materials with insulating properties and the importance of waterproof gloves in wet conditions.
- Pull Sleeves Down:
- Advises minimizing gaps between gloves and clothing to prevent cold air from entering and maximizing heat retention.
- Get the Right Fit:
- Emphasizes the need for well-fitting gloves to allow warm air circulation and stimulate blood flow to keep hands warm.
- Wear Gloves:
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Keeping Feet Warm:
- Avoid Bare Feet:
- Encourages wearing socks, slippers, or shoes at home, even advocating for wearing socks to bed if feet get cold.
- Keep Socks and Feet Dry:
- Highlights the importance of wearing dry, waterproof shoes to prevent heat transfer due to wetness.
- Elevate Feet or Keep Moving:
- Suggests elevating feet to warmer levels when sitting down and keeping legs moving to promote blood circulation to the feet.
- Opt for Woolly Socks:
- Recommends wearing woolly socks or those with insulating materials for added warmth.
- Avoid Bare Feet:
This comprehensive set of recommendations caters to different aspects of winter warmth, providing practical and effective strategies to safeguard against the cold, especially for older individuals.
