Health in winter
Winter is the time of flu, colds and lower resistance. Less sunlight, cold and less exercise cause the immune system to have to work harder. In pharmacy, we see more respiratory complaints, aching muscles, dry skin and fatigue during this time. Gloominess and sleep problems are also more common.
Wealth and Lifestyle
Who is indoors a lot, moves less and gets less sunlight. This not only lowers your energy levels, but also your vitamin D levels. Supplementation is recommended, according to Thuisarts.nl and Apotheek.nl, for the elderly, people with dark skin or those who don't get outside much. Vitamin D supports the immune system and helps keep muscles strong.
During the holidays, fatty foods, alcohol and poor sleep cause extra strain. Alcohol also affects the effect of sleep aids, antidepressants and painkillers.
Medication and cold
In many cases, the blood vessels constrict with cold, which sometimes causes blood pressure medication such as metoprolol, atenolol, enalapril or amlodipine to work more strongly. As a result, elderly people may experience lower blood pressure or dizziness more quickly. Consult with your pharmacist if you notice this.
Inhaled medication for asthma or COPD is used more often in winter because cold air stimulates the airways. Have your inhalation instruction checked to prevent shortness of breath.
Also antidepressants (such as sertraline, citalopram or amitriptyline) and sleep aids (such as oxazepam, temazepam or zolpidem) can work more strongly if you exercise less or get less daylight. Alcohol increases the sedating effect of these drugs, which increases the risk of falls, drowsiness or breathing problems.
Combining painkillers with alcohol is also risky: paracetamol can tax the liver with excessive alcohol consumption, and NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen) increase the risk of stomach or intestinal bleeding.
Tips:
- Don't drink alcohol when taking sleep aids or sedatives.
- Maintain up to two alcohol-free days per week.
- If in doubt, discuss use with your pharmacist - who can see if your combination is safe.
Antibiotics: use them responsibly
Antibiotics help only against bacterial infections, not viruses such as the flu or cold. Unnecessary use causes bacteria to become insensitive (resistance), making them more difficult to treat.
Always use antibiotics exactly as prescribed:
- Finish the course of treatment, even if you feel better.
- Don't skip doses.
- Don't ever share your medicine with anyone else.
- Avoid alcohol with medications such as metronidazole and tinidazole - this can cause severe nausea and dizziness.
Our pharmacists work with primary care physicians to promote responsible antibiotic use. Unsure if antibiotics are needed? At Thuisarts.com you can read about when they are.
Contraindications and polypharmacy
In the winter, many people take additional medications for flu, colds or pain. In the elderly or people taking multiple medications, this increases the risk of interactions.
We automatically monitor combinations such as painkillers with blood thinners or antibiotics with anticoagulants.
An example:
A patient with heart problems is taking the blood-thinning drug acenocoumaroland decides to temporarily take ibuprofen for muscle pain. The pharmacist sees this combination, warns of an increased risk of stomach bleeding, and recommends switching to paracetamol.
What's the benefit? Less risk of complications, safer recovery and fewer hospitalizations due to bleeding - easily prevented by a medication check at your pharmacy.
So always report what medications you are taking, including vitamins, herbal preparations or supplements, so that everything is safely matched.
