The therapist warned about a decrease in immunity due to walking without gloves in winter

Despite the fact that gloves at first glance may seem far from an essential element of a winter wardrobe, under certain circumstances, abandoning them can lead to quite serious consequences. There are risks associated with neglecting hand protection in the cold season, Svetlana Kuprina, internist at the INVITRO Ultrasound Institute, told Izvestia on January 16.

"Walking without gloves at low temperatures can lead to a number of pathological consequences. Acute conditions: frostbite of varying severity, impaired finger sensitivity, local hypothermia of tissues. Chronic problems such as arthritis also worsen, local microcirculation disorders occur, the risk of developing Raynaud's syndrome (vascular spasm) increases, and local immunity decreases," the expert explained.

The doctor also reminded that in the cold season, dryness, peeling, cracking of the skin of the hands and the appearance of burrs may occur. With systematic repetition and lack of hydration and nutrition, this can lead to premature aging of the skin of the hands.

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This is due to weather conditions, previous rises and active vaccination of the population, experts said

"We should also not forget about the occupational risks, including a decrease in fine motor skills, impaired coordination of movements, and temporary loss of sensitivity, which is critically important for people working with small details, musicians, and craftsmen," Kuprina said.

The therapist added that hypothermia of the hands is especially dangerous for people with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, joint diseases and peripheral circulatory disorders.

"I want to emphasize that children and the elderly should pay increased attention to hand protection, as their thermoregulation is more vulnerable. I recommend always carrying warm multi-layered gloves at temperatures below +5 °C and performing simple hand exercises at the first sign of freezing. It is also important to remember that wet hands freeze much faster, so before going out into the cold, you need to dry your hands thoroughly and use a protective cream," concluded Kuprina.

Earlier, on December 10, 2024, Alexandra Fileva, an expert doctor at the Hemotest laboratory, told Izvestia that walking in winter, in the cold, with a bare head can be harmful to health.: It doesn't take long to catch colds, respiratory and infectious diseases, which can lead to complications or provoke an exacerbation of chronic diseases. All this happens because hypothermia of the head leads to hypothermia of the entire body.