For many, it’s time to put aside the swim goggles, kayaks, and lazy afternoons spent lounging beside your favorite body of water or swaying in a backyard hammock. Summer is fading into fall and beyond, bringing new tasks (raking up fallen leaves and hauling out boxes of scarves and gloves), different sports activities (hiking, apple picking, snowshoeing, and skiing), and, likely, long hours spent in a car or plane traveling for family gatherings.
With these changes, you might find you’re experiencing more aches and pains on a daily basis. That’s because your body is twisting, bending, and lifting in ways it hasn’t in months. Plus, as the experts at the University of Chicago Medicine note, many people experience more stiffness and joint pain as the temperature drops. This might be because dipping barometric pressure causes muscles, tendons, and surrounding tissues to swell within the confined space of your joints.
These three tips below can help you seize the day.
Keep Moving – Sure, it’s tempting to curl up under a blanket on a cold morning or afternoon, but staying active is essential to keeping your muscles and joints healthy. Bundle up in layers for a brisk walk. Head to the gym for a yoga or fitness class. On days when it’s too frigid to venture outdoors, do an at-home video. You can find dozens of free workout guides and videos at Nutrition.gov, a website for health information sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Just be sure to spend a few minutes stretching your stiff joints before vigorous exercise.
Stay Hydrated – Proper hydration is key for lubricating and cushioning joints and protecting your spinal cord and other sensitive tissue, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When you’re hot and sweaty during the summer, you get lots of cues to take a swig from your water bottle. But, as the American Heart Association points out, it’s just as important to stay hydrated during cold months when dry indoor heat can lead to increased water loss simply by breathing. Hot beverages can be just as hydrating as cold ones, so keep an insulated bottle of herbal tea, cider, or coffee within easy reach.
Be Prepared To Treat Everyday Aches and Pains – No one needs another excuse to be a couch potato on cold days. That makes Aspercreme® Max Strength Lidocaine Odor Free Roll-On a winter essential. Containing the maximum-strength lidocaine available without a prescription*, it provides targeted, long-lasting relief that numbs the pain away when used as directed. The no-mess roll-on formula is easy to use. Plus, it’s non-greasy, with soothing aloe, and has no medicinal odor.
Don’t let minor pain get in the way of enjoying the season of pumpkin lattes, leaf-peeping, and apple cider donuts. Keep moving. Stay hydrated as the mercury drops. And give aches and pains the cold shoulder with Aspercreme® Max Strength Lidocaine Odor Free Roll-On.
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*Among OTC topical analgesics for intended Use(s)
Use as directed
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