In winter, if temperatures drop, they sometimes fall dramatically. To preserve your body from thermal shock and avoid getting frozen, here are some simple tips to keep in mind.

Adopt the onion strategy, several layers of clothing

Three thin layers are better than a thick layer. In other words, it is better to superpose several fine clothes than to opt for a very big sweater.

This stacking strategy, called the onion, protects more against the cold because it traps successive layers of air that retain heat near the body and prevent it from dissipating to the outside.

The right combination for cozy comfort without looking like a bibendum? An undergarment, a T-shirt or blouse, a sweater and a jacket. Choose, if possible, materials permeable to perspiration (fleece, down ...). Tissues that keep moisture close to the body (nylon, acrylic, wool ...) are more conducive to cold snaps. Do the same at the legs, slipping for example a thin tights under your pants.

Caulk ends, hands and feet

The feet, hands and head are the most fragile parts of the body because they are very vascularized and little coated with protective greases. 30% of heat exchanges with the outside are realized at their level.

To escape frostbite and avoid squandering heat, you must pay special attention. "Gloves, warm socks and a hat (hat, hat, hood, etc ...) are essential accessories in times of great cold," said Dr. Loic Etienne, emergency doctor. If your gloves and shoes are doubled, it's even better!

Stay perpetually in motion

Immobility makes it vulnerable to cold. The simple act of walking, pedaling or jumping causes muscular work that produces heat and limits the cooling of the body .

But be careful not to fall into the opposite extreme: to exercise too much physical effort during periods of extreme cold can affect your health. Indeed, to maintain its constant temperature, the body is already in over speed. The heart, in particular, is more solicited in order to activate the blood circulation. To ask him too much extra effort is therefore not wise. Below 5 ° C, the risk of infarction increases by 2% each time the ambient temperature decreases by one degree.

Avoid alcohol, opt for warming tea (really)

A dehydrated body is more susceptible to frostbite and infection. Although the feeling of thirst is not so intense, you need to drink as much water in winter as in summer (1.5 liters). To warm up from the inside, choose tea and herbal teas. In contrast, strongly limit alcoholic beverages. They give a false impression of heat. As alcohol increases the dilation of the blood vessels, it instead promotes the loss of body heat , resulting in an increased risk of hypothermia.

Pamper your skin with rich formulas

Between the wind, the humidity and the cold, the skin pulls and cats at the level of the lips. Atopic skins are the first affected, with the appearance of redness, itching and microcracks. Why ? During the winter, the sebaceous glands operate in slow motion. As a result, they produce little sebum. The skin thus fills less well its role of barrier.

To maintain its comfort and integrity, do not hesitate to moisturize it abundantly, with rich formulas (emollients, balms), in order to reconstitute its protective hydrolipidic film.