The temperatures drop severely in Omaha during the winter and remain freezing for most of December through February. When spring arrives, the weather warms up fast, leading to sunny skies and pleasant days. These drastic weather changes in Omaha can affect your health, but how?
Can Omaha Weather Changes Make You Sick?
Drops in temperature or humidity can increase infection with pathogens that cause respiratory problems. Common illnesses like bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, and the common cold can occur. People contract these illnesses in the winter because of a drop in humidity and dryness in the respiratory tract.
Low humidity in the air results in the drying of the mucosal membranes lining the mouth, nose, throat, and lungs. As a result, you become prone to infection.
The cool air also dries out the skin, causing the contraction of blood vessels in the upper airways and nose. This reduces the immune system’s efficacy in these regions.
Viral Spread
Viral pathogens survive longer outside of a host in cooler weather. For instance, the lipid covering of the flu virus allows it to thrive in colder temperatures, preserving the pathogen from environmental damage.
The outer membrane forms a gel when the temperatures reach the freezing mark. This gel melts when in contact with warmer temperatures. The cooler temperatures allow the pathogen to travel easily between hosts, providing optimal conditions for its spread.
Allergens
The cooler Omaha weather in the fall and winter also increases seasonal allergies. Winds from cold fronts carry allergens, like pollen, in the air for great distances. Simultaneously, cooler, less humid conditions dry out the nose, throat, and airways, increasing allergy symptoms in sensitive individuals.
Wet, rainy days also provide ideal conditions for the spread of allergens in the air. The cooler weather in the fall and winter narrows the airways, inflaming the lining of the lungs. In turn, this aggravates asthma and allergy symptoms.
Both indoor heating systems and air conditioning can contribute to dry indoor air during the winter months.
Low Humidity
Low winter humidity increases viral outbreaks, spreading the pathogen in the community. The drop in humidity decreases our immune response, allowing accelerated transmission of disease.
Spending More Time Indoors
As a result of spending more time indoors during cold weather, we come in contact with people for longer durations than in the spring and summer. If someone in the house gets a contagious illness, they are more likely to pass it on to other people living there. This can result in the fast spread of illnesses.
This isn’t only in the home, however. The chances of exposure to pathogens in restaurants, lounges, schools, and indoor events, like parties increase during the cold winter months as well.
Who Is at Risk of Getting Sick During Weather Changes in Omaha?
Some people are more prone to pathogenic infection than others:
- People over 65 years of age.
- Those who suffer from chronic diseases.
- Children under 5.
Adults over 65 have a weaker immune response than adults under this age group. They experience a reduction in the health of their immune system as they age. Therefore, making them more prone to developing disease when they contract a pathogenic infection.
People who suffer from chronic diseases have weaker immune systems. Certain auto-immune conditions, such as Crohn’s disease, also affect the immune response, resulting in more vulnerability to pathogenic infection.
Children under 5 have not developed a robust immune system, making them prone to infection. They may take the pathogens back home, where they spread to other family members.
Public Health
Public Health officials continuously monitor factors and implement appropriate public health interventions. They aim to protect communities from the spread of infectious diseases and reduce the overall risk of illness.
5 Tips to Stay Healthy During Omaha Weather Changes
You can adopt several strategies to improve your immune response and mitigate the risk of pathogenic infection or allergy attacks during seasonal weather changes.
- Check your local weather with the National Weather Service. When the mercury drops, be prepared to bundle up and stay warm, especially if you have health issues or are in a high-risk group for pathogenic infection.
- Stay hydrated to ensure your body runs optimally and your cells function properly. Eat well and give your body the calories it needs to operate in cooler climates.
- Get enough rest and sleep. Seven to nine hours a night ensures a robust immune system response to any pathogens you encounter.
- Wash your hands frequently, especially after going shopping or meeting people. Carry hand sanitizer with you when you’re away from home.
- Exercise often to bolster your immune system and give your body the best chance of defending itself against pathogenic infection.
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