Feb 13, 2008

Seniors, it's cold outside! What to do

In much of the country, now is the time to combat the cold. But it's a tougher chore for seniors than many other folks.

In "very young and very old people, their immune system tends to be weaker," Dr. Jorge Fleisher told the Boston Globe. Also, "when elderly individuals are exposed to the cold, they may not control their body temperature as well."

Because it's so cold, seniors often opt to stay indoors where toxins and viruses accumulate -- and increase their risk of getting sick, Fleisher said.

And then seniors don't respond as well to vaccines and treatments as adults, he said.

So what's a senior to do?
* Know the weather outside and what is predicted
* Understand that wind chill increases cold-weather risks
* Prepare for days when you are unable to go shopping or keep appointments
* Keep a stock of nonperishable foods, such as canned soup, crackers, peanut butter and dry cereal
* Store flashlights and other items that would be needed in a power outage
* Dress in multiple, dry layers of loose-fitting clothing and pairs of thick socks
* Wear long-underwear!
* Keep your face and extremities covered -- wear a scarf, hat and gloves
* Don't use space heaters, especially in the bedroom -- instead, install insulation and weather stripping

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