Therapist warned of lowered immunity due to walking without gloves in winter

Despite the fact that gloves at first glance may seem far from being an essential element of a winter closet, under certain circumstances the refusal to wear them can lead to quite serious consequences. There are risks associated with neglecting hand protection in the cold season, Svetlana Kuprina, physician - therapist, doctor of ultrasound INVITRO, 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 sensitivity of fingers, local hypothermia of tissues. Also aggravate such chronic problems as arthritis, manifest local disorders of blood microcirculation, increases the risk of Raynaud's syndrome (vasospasm) and reduces local immunity, "- explained the expert.

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

"Also, we should not forget about occupational risks, which include decreased fine motor skills, impaired coordination of movements, temporary loss of sensitivity, which is critical for people who work with small parts, musicians, masters of arts and crafts," Kuprina said.

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

"I want to emphasize that children and the elderly should pay increased attention to the protection of hands, 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 signs of freezing. It is also important to remember that wet hands freeze much faster, so you should thoroughly dry your hands and use a protective cream before going out in the cold," Kuprina concluded.

Earlier, on December 10, 2024, Alexandra Fileva, an expert physician at the Hemotest laboratory, told Izvestia that walking in winter, in the cold, with bare head can be harmful to health: it is not long to catch a cold, respiratory and infectious diseases, which can turn into complications or provoke exacerbation of chronic diseases. All this happens because hypothermia of the head leads to hypothermia of the whole body.