Your Winter Survival Kit; How To Make It Through The Next Few Months And Come Out On Top

January 16, 2023

The winter is a time of joy and cheer, hot cocoa, sleds, and reindeer. But for others, it is a cold and miserable time of year. Their noses are stuffy, skin is dry, throat is itchy, and it's freezing all the time. Whether you enjoy the winter or not, it can still be a tough season to endure which is why HealthPrep has prepared a Winter Survival Kit full of goodies to keep your health and spirit up during these months. Keep in mind that you personalize a basket, an old first-aid kit, or even decorate your own kit to make it look just asÂawesome as you feel.

Better Your Air With A Humidifier

A heater can beat the bitter cold of the winter, but it can also make the air unbearably dry. The dry air is extremely annoying as it chaps your lips, makes your skin dry and itchy and can be so bad that it makes your skin crack. That is why a humidifier can be a wonderful addition to improve the quality of your air. The moisture from rehydrating the air with a humidifier will help with dry skin, but it also helps relieve a runny nose and sinus congestion and eases snoring. On top of that, a humidifier can also benefit the livelihood of your plants, while helping regulate the temperature of your home.Â

Now you know one method to fix a runny nose but read further to learn the other combative methods.

Fight A Runny Nose With Tissues And Cream

There are so many ways to combat the annoyance of a runny nose. There are steam pots, humidifiers, nasal sprays, and home remedies such as eating a lot of spicy food, drinking plenty of herbal teas and water, and having a hot shower. Although those all sound great, none are as easy, convenient or accessible as carrying tissues. Whether it is a full box on your nightstand or a travel pack, tissues are the all-day fighter of runny noses. However, using tissues over and over again can cause dryness and irritation to your nose, so it is suggested to pair your tissues with your hydrating ointment of choice to alleviate those unwanted side effects.Â

Next, learn about the medical invention that has been used and perfected since the late 1500's.

A Thermometer Can Tell You Your Body Temperature

Galileo Galilei invented the first medical thermometer in between 1592 and 1593. Since then, there have been major improvements to the device. A thermometer is inserted into the mouth, armpit, or ear to measure the temperature of your body. Your temperature should read between ninety-eight, and ninety-nine degrees Fahrenheit, below can indicate hypothermia, and above 100.4 indicates a fever. If you do not have a thermometer to add to your kit, you can always check someone's temperature by gently putting the back of your hand against their forehead. Keep in mind, that there will be no accurate reading or measurement, and you will need to use your best judgment.

A thermometer is a great addition to a winter cold survival kit, but next learn about some handy medicines to keep in your kit.

Take Medicine

Medicines can help you get through the bitter cold months of the winter and fight off some nasty symptoms. Some meds that you may want to add to your winter cold survival kit include pain relievers with ibuprofen, acetaminophen or naproxen to relieve muscle aches, headaches, earaches and sore throats. As well as nasal decongestants to alleviate a stuffy nose, cough suppressants, expectorants, and antihistamines to help relieve symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and itchy or watery eyes. Be sure to speak with your doctor or pharmacist before taking or changing any medications.

Now that you know which medications to add to your kit read on to learn about some warm drinks to add to your cold days.

Drink Tea

When you think of winter you probably imagine a steaming cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows, but there are some teas that taste just as good that you can reap more benefits from. You can mix all of your favorite kinds of tea into your winter cold survival kit. To reduce your sugar and add antibacterial properties to your tea, use some local, organic honey. You can also add lemon or ginger to help clean your liver and aid digestion. A great and easy tea to make to fight off a cold is lemon, ginger, turmeric and honey tea. Just put your desired amount of the ingredients in a pot of hot water and let it steep for five to ten minutes, then enjoy.Â

There are a variety of benefits from different types of tea, learn all about them in our Little-Known Health Benefits Of Drinking TeaÂ.

Use Hand Sanitizer

With many people spending their days indoors, more germs get transferred which is why so many people catch a cold or flu. It is great to wash your hands after every handshake, or interaction with a shared object like a door handle. However, you can be even more proactive on fighting germs if you pack some sanitizer or alcohol wipes. A big bottle is great for the office or home, but there are travel packs of all different scents that you can bring in your kit, or your vehicle. Then you can fight germs wherever you go, whether there is a sink or not.

Cough Drops And Lozenges Are Your Friend

The last thing to add to your winter cold survival kit is your favorite cough drops and lozenges. They temporarily lubricate, soothe and coat your throat and relieve coughing. If there are medicinal ingredients in your preferred choice of a lozenge, make sure to read the label to ensure that you are not taking more than the recommended amount. You can also look for menthol lozenges or honey or ginger candies to help relieve your symptoms without worrying about overdosing.

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