6 Cold-Weather Health Conditions & Tips To Help Your Body Cope

This is not medical advice.

The winter months can have a tremendous impact on our bodies. While most of us know what to expect year after year, it can still be a challenge to stay healthy once the temperature starts to drop and the days get shorter.

From physical ailments and respiratory conditions to mental and emotional impacts, here are some common cold-weather health conditions, as well as how to prevent and treat them.

1. Dry Skin

In the cold winter months, there’s less humidity in the air — which can have negative effects on the body. Specifically, when the skin doesn’t have enough moisture, dry skin — or xeroderma — occurs. According to Harvard Health Publishing, dry skin typically becomes more common with age and results in “roughness, flaking, itching, cracking, and sometimes a burning sensation.”

While it can be hard to avoid, there are some precautions you can take. By showering for less time, and using warm water instead of hot, you can avoid washing away your body’s natural oils.

Although avoiding irritants may not be enough to stop dry skin, treatment options are available. GoodRx offers treatments such as alpha hydroxy acids, keratolytics and skin barrier emollients, all of which are common drug classes used to treat dry skin. Thicker moisturizers tend to be more effective, so go for the greasiest option, such as petroleum jelly or an oil.

2. Joint Pain

When the temperature drops, the cold weather can affect your joints and cause stiffness, aches and pains. One possible reason the cold weather has this effect is due to the drop in barometric pressure, according to UChicago Medicine. This can cause the expansion of tendons, muscles and the surrounding tissues within the body, causing pain.

To reduce the risk of joint pain, it’s important to stay warm, exercise to build up muscle and bone strength, avoid unnecessary strain on your joints and relax muscles with heating pads or other soothing methods.

Various treatment options are available, such as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug often used for bone, joint and muscle pain called diclofenac. It comes in three topical versions: a patch, gel and a solution. Another option is lidocaine, a local anesthetic that dampens nerve signals that are responsible for sensing pain. Depending on the severity of your pain, both over-the-counter and stronger prescription patches are available.

Prescription lidocaine patches can be more expensive than over-the-counter ones, and insurance companies don’t always cover their costs. That’s why it’s a good idea to shop around with GoodRx to find the most affordable options nearby.

3. Asthma

Those with asthma, a respiratory condition in which the airways are inflamed by certain triggers, may find that their symptoms are heightened during the winter months. Asthma symptoms include chest tightness, wheezing, coughing and breathlessness. The severity of each person’s asthma differs, but triggers can include physical activity, air pollutants, cold air, respiratory infections, allergens, strong emotions such as stress and certain medications.

While asthma can't be completely cured, its symptoms can be controlled by taking preventative measures. Some ways to control asthma and prevent an attack include following your asthma action plan, monitoring your breathing and taking medication as prescribed.

Different forms of medication are available, including nebulizers, liquids, pills and, most commonly, inhalers. This medication is critical to those suffering from asthma, and services like GoodRx can make these medications more affordable and accessible for those who need them. Some examples of inhalers include budesonide (Pulmicort), beclomethasone (Qvar), albuterol (Proair, Ventolin, Proventil) and budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort).

4. Common Cold

Colds are a virus that affects the upper respiratory tract, which includes the nose, sinuses, voice box and throat. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, they release the virus into the air, which can infect others if they breathe it in or get too close.

Common cold symptoms include a stuffy nose, sore throat, sneezing, body aches, mucus and coughing. You’re usually contagious a few days before your symptoms begin, and can remain contagious the entire time you have them.

To get over a cold, it’s important to get plenty of rest, keep yourself hydrated with fluids, turn on a humidifier and take cough drops and throat lozenges to relieve throat pain.

While these methods can help, over-the-counter medication can also alleviate and treat symptoms. GoodRx can help you find deals on the best medication for a common cold, including antihistamines, decongestants, expectorants, antitussives and analgesics/antipyretics.

5. Frostbite

When the body is exposed to cold temperatures for too long and loses body heat faster than it can produce it, frostbite can occur. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and color in affected areas, which are most often the fingers, toes, nose, cheeks, ears and chin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The condition can permanently damage body tissues and can even lead to amputation in more-severe cases.

Frostbite symptoms can include numbness, tingling, stinging and bluish or pale waxy skin tone and texture.

Those with frostbite should take action as soon as they are able by warming up and immersing the affected area in warm water. It’s important that frostbitten parts of the body are not rubbed, massaged, used or walked on, as these actions can cause more damage. The affected areas are going to be numb, so take care of those spots and avoid using anything hot, as they could easily be burned.

6. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a seasonal depression that occurs during specific times of the year. It’s believed to be caused by low levels of vitamin D, difficulty regulating serotonin, and high melatonin. SAD is particularly common in people who live in colder climates or where there is little sun exposure.

Symptoms of SAD significantly interfere with one’s ability to function. They include low energy despite getting sleep, loss of interest in hobbies and activities, unhappiness, trouble concentrating, feelings of worthlessness, suicidal thoughts, altered sleeping patterns and appetite changes.

Multiple treatment options are available for those living with SAD, including various forms of therapy, medication and alternative approaches to increase light exposure and better your overall health.

Anxiety medication and antidepressants are commonly prescribed for those experiencing SAD. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac and Zoloft, are an antidepressant often prescribed, which increase serotonin levels in the brain. Bupropion is also commonly prescribed and works by increasing levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. With GoodRx, those living with SAD can find the best prices on treatments that work.

If you find yourself experiencing common cold-weather health conditions this winter season, GoodRx can help. Its app provides savings on medication for all of the health conditions listed above and may even help you find a better price through a free coupon accepted at your local pharmacy counter. Head to the GoodRx website to find coupons and price comparisons for all your prescription medication needs.

Try GoodRx and see how much you can save on your prescriptions this winter and beyond. The GoodRx app can help you find and compare the best prices for all your prescription medicines.