The Seasons Are Changing- So Should Our Self-Care Routines

Things To Think About As The Summer Turns To Fall

The seasons are changing, and with them, so should our body care routines. In this blog, we’ll talk about what you can do for your body, to better prepare it for winter challenges.

Dr. Shyamali Singhal, surgical oncologist and founder of H&B, said that the seasonal changes of weather and temperature can affect us in more ways than one. This influence can even be measured and qualified. For cancer patients, these variables are not to be seen as less important. The overall death rates are highest during colder months in many countries, especially those at high latitudes. In some countries, this is also true for more specific diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and influenza. For internal cancers, we find no consistent, significant seasonal variation, neither of incidence nor of death rates.

Sunlight is necessary for the creation of vitamin D in the body. Evidence exists to suggest that vitamin D metabolites may have a role in tumor growth suppression.

Frequency, as well as prognosis, of certain types of cancer, seems to be related to the vitamin D status. Consequently, most case-control epidemiological studies show that a high intake of vitamin D reduces the risk.

Fall Season Often Means Flu Season

With fall approaching, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) expects flu season to begin within the next few months. According to the CDC, the flu season often begins somewhere around October with peak flu season happening between December and February.

This isn’t all: in addition to flu viruses, several other respiratory viruses also distribute themselves during the flu season and can cause symptoms and illnesses similar to those observed with flu infection. These respiratory viruses include rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is the most common cause of severe respiratory illness in young children.

Important Facts To Keep In Mind

If you have cancer now or if you have had cancer in the past, it’s necessary that you remember the following facts to keep yourself healthy and prevent seasonal illness:

• Although it’s not certain if cancer survivors become contaminated with influenza viruses more often, people who have cancer are indeed at higher risk for complications if they get the flu.          

• Everybody aged 6 months or older are advised to get a flu shot.

Since 2010, the CDC concludes that the flu has caused between 9.2 million and 35.6 million illnesses, between 140,000 and 710,000 hospitalizations and between 12,000 and 56,000 deaths yearly in the US.

• Pneumococcal disease kills over 16,000 adults 65 years or older.

Adults over 65 years, and those ages 19-64 with immunocompromised conditions like cancer, should receive two different pneumonia vaccinations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that cancer patients undergoing treatment and cancer survivors get their annual influenza shot. Please talk to your physician about whether you should get the influenza vaccine.

Get Your Flu Shots, If You Can Receive Them

There are two types of flu vaccines: a needle and a nasal spray. The nasal spray is made from a weakened form of the virus and should not be provided to cancer patients.

Many people look forward to the winter season. But when the temperature drops, people living with cancer need to take some extra steps to stay as healthy as possible.

The needle version of the vaccine is made from a killed virus. However, it takes about two weeks for the immune system to develop antibodies. Sometimes when people get a flu shot, they already have been exposed to the flu, but don’t know it yet because they don’t have any symptoms. They get the shot and begin getting flu symptoms in a few days, leading them to think the shot made them sick. However, this is just a coincidence. Because of the way it’s made, the flu shot cannot make you sick.

After you get the flu shot, your arm will probably be a little sore from the injection and you might get a slight fever and feel tired as your body is producing antibodies.

The cold and flu season is from October to May in the United States. Therefore, the best time to receive the flu shot is in October or November, but the CDC says that the shot is still good even if you get it later in the season. In the past, people have gotten extra flu shots that protect against various strains of the disease, as seen in recent years with the vaccine against a novel virus called H1N1. Because the normal flu shot doesn’t protect against H1N1, a second shot is required to protect yourself against this strain of the virus.

Be Mindful Of You Body’s Needs

A type of eczema worsened by cold, winter itch is a perpetual inconvenience for healthy people and cancer patients alike. As the humidity drops down during colder months, skin can turn dry, itchy, or even cracked and scraped raw from scratching. These symptoms can become far more noticeable for patients on chemotherapy. Staying out of cold temperatures is smart, but drinking fluids, the use of moisturizers, evasion of harsh soaps and detergents, and the use of a home humidifier also are all advised for cancer patients during colder months. Dr. Shyamali suggests using our PCA Skin’s Sensitive Skin Kit. It’s a carefully selected combination of scientifically developed products designed to improve the health and appearance of your skin. Soothe your sensitive and irritated skin with this mix of products that ease irritation and strengthen your skin while preventing redness.  All of H&B products are completely free of all irritants, synthetic dyes, and fragrances.