The coldest temperatures in decades hit a large portion of the Central and Southern Plains on Tuesday morning, with lows dropping below zero all the way down to Texas. Hundreds of record low temperatures have been set with the current cold blast, and many locations Tuesday morning saw their coldest temperatures seen in decades, if ever. This cold weather is sweeping across much of the country, but how do frosty mornings and biting winds affect our bodies and health?

Cold weather can increase your chances of getting sick and bring other health risks along with it. We all know that colds and flu seem to be everywhere during the winter months, but why does this happen? The reason the flu & other viruses spread so easily during winter is due to the fact that these viruses are more stable and are able to stay in the air for longer when it’s cold. Which is why you are more likely to contract the flu from walking down the street on a cold day than you are from sitting in a warm room.

Cold weather can also put increased stress on our cardiovascular system. Cold temperatures cause your blood vessels to constrict, shallow breathing, and a slight thickening of the blood. Cold temperatures can cause more problems for asthma sufferers. Cold air causes the air passages in the lungs of some asthma sufferers to contract, making it difficult to breathe. Needless to say it’s important to understand that keeping warm during the winter months is essential.

Planet Beach offers several heated services that can help you combat these cold weather health risks. By far the most popular and most beneficial is the HOTWORX, a virtually instructed exercise program created for users to experience the many benefits of infrared heat absorption, while completing a 30-minute isometric workout or 15-min High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) session. As the infrared heat penetrates your body causing you to sweat, the isometric postures further accelerate detoxification by physically removing the toxins from your organs through muscle contraction.

Cold, dry air can also worsen conditions such as eczema by drying out the skin. Planet Beach has you covered there too! We offer red light therapy for the face and body at our spray & spa locations. Red light therapy can be an effective, natural treatment for eczema and psoriasis, reducing itchiness and inflammation, and helping speed the healing process of skin in general.

If your mood gets worse as the weather gets chillier and the days get shorter, you may have “winter depression” also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Studies show that vitamin D can play a role in the production of serotonin and dopamine, the “happy chemicals” in the brain that are often low when someone has depression. Vitamin D is known as the “sunshine vitamin” because your body can make it by using cholesterol and absorbing UV. Your mood may improve with as little as 10 minutes of UV exposure. This is why light therapy is an important treatment for SAD. Planet Beach spas offer UV Therapy sessions in a controlled and warm environment so that you can get your vitamin D all year long!

Let Planet Beach spray & spa be your one stop shop to get you through these cold winter days! Click here to find a location near you, and come warm up at Planet Beach!

Source: https://signaturemd.com/

---

Written By: Paige Stuart, Planet Beach Brand Manager & Franchisee