By Kim Tae-jong
Spring is just around the corner, and people’s bodies are starting to adjust to the seasonal change while they don’t even recognize it.
Doctors said such an adjusting procedure makes people feel tired and sometimes sick, advising them to check and tune up their health condition more carefully to smooth the transition into the new season.
“Your body needs more energy to keep up with the seasonal change around this time of the year,” doctor Kang Hee-cheol of the family medical department at Yonsei Severance Hospital said. “In this regard, if you don’t have enough ‘reserver,’ you may suffer from various ailments.”
Typical ailments range from colds, skin trouble and allergy-related symptoms, of which the main causes include changes in the weather and the pollen that floats in the air from flowers that usually bloom during this season, Kang said.
To prevent such ailments, he advised strengthening the immune system by taking enough rest, eating a healthy diet and exercising on a regular basis.
“Light exercise such as stretching is advised to those who want to start a new regimen. Sudden and immoderate exercise is very stressful to the body, which can make people sick,” he said.
Vitamins from fresh fruits and vegetables can help improve overall health by “enhancing” the body’s immune system, and keeping illness away, he said.
“But the best preventive remedy is to keep your lifestyle healthy _ stay away from heavy drinking, smoking and a bad diet,” he said.
The changes in seasons place additional demands not only physically but also mentally as people start new things in the spring, which also leads them to get sick or depressed.
“With the beginning of spring, you may need to do new things. You may take on a new task or simply more to do at work. But it’s recommended not to do things hastily. Take your time and also sleep enough to prepare for the transition,” he said.