It is better to refrain from alcohol and tobacco consumption during the extreme cold - Ministry of Health

In connection with the observation of anomalous cold in Uzbekistan between 10-15 January this year, the Deputy Minister of Health Elmira Bositkhonova gave her recommendations on how the anomalous temperature affects human health and how to avoid its harmful consequences.

According to the deputy minister, it is better to give up alcohol and tobacco consumption during the extreme cold, as these harmful habits can cause blood vessels to narrow sharply and freeze the hands and feet in a short period.

Extreme cold weather dries out human skin excessively. Therefore, before going out, it is better not to apply medicines containing water to the skin. On the contrary, it is recommended to use oily creams.

"In severe cold, the blood vessels in the human body narrow sharply.  Such unfavorable weather can seriously harm patients suffering from diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis of cerebral blood vessels, post-stroke and heart attack, and angina pectoris.  They are afflicted with pains in the head and heart.  Also, in patients with bronchial and lung diseases, in particular, bronchial asthma, complications during the active period of the disease increase.  That is, when going out, the risk of bronchospasm or angina pectoris increases.  For this reason, such people must carry with them the medicines they take regularly, according to the doctor's recommendation," says Elmira Bositkhonova.

In addition, anomalous cold skin and kidney disease can cause deterioration in the general condition of patients. Because in such conditions there is a high probability of parts of the body freezing.  Therefore, to avoid getting cold, it is necessary to wear warm and thick clothes when going out.

It is very important to use gloves and woolen socks.  It is especially important to keep the head and the neck, where large blood vessels are located, warm.  The reason is that the veins in the neck supply the human brain with blood.

"On cold days, you should have breakfast in the morning.  Starvation causes rapid freezing of the body and weakening of the immune system.  It is advisable to increase the calorie intake of food by 25-30% compared to hot days.  Hot and liquid foods are very useful for this.  It is recommended to spend less time in the open air on abnormally cold days, children and the elderly should not go outside," the deputy minister said.

Earlier it was reported that it was proposed to allow all employees to work online during abnormally cold days.