Indian summer: how not to get sick? - In the news

2023-10-06 13:08:04

October 06, 2023

Cool temperatures in the morning and evening and a rise in the thermometer during the day. Summer outfits still out, a sweater that you keep putting on and taking off, closed shoes then bare feet the next day… Indian summer has everything to make you fall ill. How not to fall into the trap?

It’s the beginning of October, and our summer clothes haven’t yet been put away in the closet. Dresses, t-shirts and Bermuda shorts are still in the wardrobes to stay comfortable during the day, while the thermometer shows temperatures of early summer. However, in the morning and evening, temperatures drop and many of us get fooled. If you live by the sea and you have the opportunity to swim after a day of work: the water is still good but the slight wind may grab you when you leave the water, your bronchi will do it to you feel the next day.

These sudden variations in mercury will weaken your body and make it more vulnerable to external attacks. To best resist temperature contrasts, remember to ventilate the place in which you will work in the morning so that the temperature is pleasant and you do not have to put on and take off too many layers. Avoid turning on the air conditioning during the day at the office as much as possible: your body will suffer even more when leaving work if it suddenly has to re-accustom itself to a high temperature.

If you work outdoors, do not neglect the rise in temperatures even if it is cooler than during heat waves: continue to cover your head, hydrate yourself and take regular breaks in the shade if you do not You have no choice but to work between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. As the INRS reminds us, “ above 30°C for sedentary activity, and 28°C for work requiring physical activity, heat can constitute a risk for employees ».

The powers of sport

To prevent colds, Covid, flu, nasopharyngitis, you can also focus on physical activities and practices such as yoga to stimulate your body’s immunity. All disciplines combined, practiced for 60 minutes per day at a medium to moderate intensity, the sport is known for “ improve blood circulation », underline Dino Masson and Mélissa Globensky, kinesiologists, on the site www.brunet.ca. What ” allows the various substances of the immune system to circulate more efficiently throughout the body. This positive effect seems to continue to be felt for a few days after exercise. ».

It is therefore no coincidence that he “ It is rather rare to see a physically active person experience an upper respiratory infection (URTI), such as sore throat, cold or sinusitis, due to this immunoprotective effect “. On the other hand, there is no point in forcing: this effect is reversed if your practice exhausts your body. The cause: an increase in stress hormones (cortisol, etc.) linked to excess stimulation of the body, which is then harmful to the immune system.

The adaptation strategy

Finally, do not hesitate to react day by day and cover yourself well if the temperatures are set to drop again. It is when the thermometer falls, during this fall/winter transition, that the rates of viral and bacterial infections increase. In question : “ the cold also causes a reduction in the diameter of the bronchi, which sometimes hinders breathing », informs the Ameli.fr website. In the respiratory tract, the cilia responsible for eliminating toxins are less effective: the risk of colds and bronchitis increases accordingly. Moreover, “the concentration of the population in confined and poorly ventilated spaces (public transport in particular) increases the risk of transmission of infections. »

To note : despite the almost summer temperatures in most regions of France, do not forget that vaccinations against pneumococci, Covid-19 and soon the flu are open to the most vulnerable (immunocompromised patients, patients with chronic illnesses weakening the cardio-respiratory system, pregnant women, elderly people).

Source : National information portal for older people and their loved ones, National Institute for Research and Security (INRS), www.brunet.ca, sites consulted October 3, 2023 – JACM, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, April 28 2020
Written by : Laura Bourgault – Edited by: Emmanuel Ducreuzet