As Ukraine finds itself in the grip of an unusually cold winter many people not used to such cold weather wonder seek tips for survival. After more than 10 winters here, perhaps I can offer some useful medical tips.
Extreme cold has various effects on the body, the first being the simple freezing of extremities.
Nobody would dream of keeping their hands in the freezer for 30 minutes, but strangely foreigners often think that their hands and ears and faces are immune from the cold.
Every severe winter we see cases of “frostbite” – the simple freezing of the extremities — which is extremely painful and often needs hospitalization for its treatment with drugs that increase blood flow to these areas and let tissues recover. The condition can cause nerve damage and damage to facial skin, which should always be protected by a barrier cream.
Longer-term effects of cold, not so commonly seen in Ukraine, but the cause of death in many street dwellers are hypothermia and depression of the immune system.
Hypothermia is caused by the lowering of body temperature over many hours. It is usually caused by wearing inadequate clothing or failing to exercise in the cold.
Its effects are mental and physical and it is made worse by alcohol, which causes blood vessels to expand and for us to lose heat more rapidly. Many layers are the answer to human insulation trapping warm air between each. Natural fibers are much better than synthetic – those in the arctic often wearing silk underclothes! For children this is much more important as they have a larger surface area through which to lose heat. If travelling by car, always make sure you have extra clothing in the event of breakdowns or getting stranded.
Cold appears to depress the immune system and therefore prolonged periods of cold can lead us to catch infections such as influenza, common colds and pneumonia. I think the old saying “wrap up or you will catch a chill” is based on this. If your apartment is not so warm, it is important to have enough clothes at night as our body temperatures can drop in deep sleep.
The human body strangely responds to cold by sweating, so in winter I often see patients complaining of waking wet with perspiration in the night.
The human body uses a lot of energy in cold weather and those on very strict diets or fasts may find it difficult to keep warm and become susceptible to the effects of chilling. Severe cold drives us to eat, and those on diets and conscious of their own beauty should relax at these times! Our demands for sleep also end to be higher during very cold weather.
Dry apartments and rapid changes of temperature are a challenge to sinus sufferers and they need to try and change temperature slowly as a sudden 30 degree change causes contraction of the sinus drainage system. A small time on the balcony or the stairwell often helps before going onto the street.
Needless to say snow and ice causes many broken bones. Clip on Norra spikes are useful in winter weather. But also make sure your boots have the softer sort of rubber that aids traction! Running on snow in high-heeled boots requires years of practice. Don’t even try it if you weren’t born here! Sportsmen should always spend time warming up and should never ski or snow board immediately after leaving a warm hotel as their muscles will be contracted and much more easily damaged.
But enough advice. Some good clothing and care will leave you absolutely able to enjoy that shashlik in the forest or even a roll in the snow after a winter sauna in the country! But most of all enjoy the beauty of rural Ukraine in the winter and escape the clogged streets of Kyiv to experience a winter’s sunrise in a Ukrainian village.
Dr. Richard Styles is a British family physician at American Medical Centers, http://amcenters.com/, a full-service clinic, in Kyiv.
