December 5, 2024

Welcome, Winter, My Old Friend.

The darkness of winter has descended upon us and the temperatures are dropping too... but we've got your health top of mind!

While many of the challenging parts of winter are beyond our control, it's the perfect time to focus on what we can control—things like staying active, preparing food safely, dressing appropriately for the weather and even changing the batteries in our carbon monoxide alarms. As we face this season's challenges, we invite you to join us in embracing a winter of good health by diving into this edition of Health Sense.

Follow us on social media @HealthVermont and visit our website, HealthVermont.gov, for more useful information.

* Scroll down for the answer.

Very Healthy, Very Demure.

Join a My Healthy Vermont workshop and get the tools you need to feel better! 

Learn how to lower your risk of diabetes, manage high blood pressure and high blood sugar (diabetes), manage chronic pain, or quit tobacco. Most workshops are online, but some are in-person.

There are workshops starting in January. Learn more or enroll directly at MyHealthyVT.org.

Make Sure Your Meals Are Memorable for the RIGHT Reasons...



Keep food tasting good and safe to eat this holiday season by following these food safety tips: 

• Wash your hands and surfaces often when cooking.  



• Avoid cross-contamination: Use separate cutting boards for raw meat and keep away from ready-to-eat foods like salads or bread. 

• Cook food to the right temperature: Use a food thermometer to make sure your meats are cooked enough. 

• Refrigerate leftovers: Don’t leave perishable food out for more than two hours. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers quickly to prevent bacteria from growing. 

• Travel safely with food: If you’re bringing food to a holiday gathering, keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold by using insulated containers.

Learn more about food safety here.

No Need to Freeze!

If your skin is touched by extreme cold for too long it can cause frostbite or hypothermia.

Make sure to keep yourself safe by following these tips: 



• Layer up: Wear warm, insulating layers to trap heat and a waterproof layer to block wind and wetness. 

• Cover up exposed skin: Hats, gloves and face coverings are your best defense against the chill. 

• Take breaks: Been outside for a while? Head indoors to warm up and treat yourself to a hot drink while you’re at it! 

Learn more about how to stay safe during winter weather here. 

* Option A, bronchitis (chest cold) is the correct answer. Bronchitis is usually caused by a virus. Bacteria can sometimes cause acute bronchitis, but even in these cases, antibiotics aren’t recommended and won’t help you get better.  

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