Evening star., 1954-12-12
llalalil l1A APPROVED a AMERICAN MEDICAL Assn
:.

should come indoors when they want to take rest
When you enter warm house or store. outer
clothing should be taken of. at very least opened
wide even though you are staying only minute" !"
Otherwise. sweating viii be induced and. with
return to the wintry blasts. chilling of the body can
easily occur. And doctors generally agree that chilli
ing is the most important predisposing factor 50 far
as colds and pneumonia are concerned.
INDOORS: One way to make the outdoors more
tolerable is to keep the home Temperature below
boiling. A high of 68 degrees Fahrenheit has been
found adequate for the average household. II there
are III. rundown older persons in the family how
ever. an increase, perhaps up to "a, may be neces
sary, because subnormal or aging body has less
ability to produce heat.
Surprisingly, many people follow proper precau-
tions during the day. and then sleep in room
resembling an icebox with gale blowing through it.
Bodies are kept warm by heavy bedclothes. but the
head is exposed to the elements at time when pro-
tectve functions are at lowest ebb Sufferers from
sinusits from chronic colds are especially likely
to pay for this foolish habit.
OF course, one sleeps best in fresh atmosphere,
and there is no objection to slightly open window
if the general health Of the sleeper is good II you
do tend to feel the cold suggest that you air out
the bedroom by opening the windows for 10 or Is
minutes before retiring, and then close them. The
change of air, plus what seeps in around closed
windows will provide plenty of oxygen.
OUTDOORS In winter the ordinary lO-minute
walk to the station made through heavy snow or on
icy walks, bucking wind and bmdened by heavy
clothes. has the equivalent of quarter-miIe
race. And anyone pushing the age Of 40 should long
since have taken himself out of track meets.
Equally foolish is the homeowner in the higher age
groups who insists on keeping his walks clear Of snow
himself Usually overbundled he shoyels and shoves
his heart doing its best to keep up but not always
succeeding As for winter sports, the individual
must be his own judge. They take lot OF reserve
power. in heart and muscles and there is the ever
present danger of falls and fractures.
Prolonged exposure sometimes results i'm
whitened. fostbtten finger toe ear. A generation
ago people were told to rub the affected part with
snow, but now medical science has learned that it
should be promptly warmed, with exposure to mod
crate heat and no rubbing In severe cases medical
attention is required as soon as possible Drugs that
improve the flow of blood are now available and
often will prevent gangene
Even for those who retreat to southern resort,
winter may present hazards Lulled into false
sense of virty by the balmy weather. they tend TO
overdo And there is always the chance Of producing
apoplexy by laughing too hard over weather reports
from the snowbound home town.
DURING THE NEXT FEW WEEKS THIS
WEEKS "Cood HEALTH column will be inter-
rupted to make way for holiday features.
Look for IL early in the new year, when IL
win again offer weekly articles by outstand-
ing medical authorities. bringing You sane
and tested rules for healthier. happier living.