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7
Q
Why do I feel depressed, irritable and tired during the
winter months?
A.
You may have a condition called seasonal a ective disorder. Symptoms
usually appear during the colder months of winter, when there is less
exposure to sunlight. Symptoms may vary but include increased sleep or less
sleep, weight gain or weight loss, irritability, and di culty with relationships.
ere are treatment options available, which may include prescribed
medications and counseling. If you feel you may have these symptoms,
please contact your provider so he or she can evaluate you and decide which
treatment option may be best.
Q
How can I treat dry, itchy skin that develops in the winter?
A.
Dry skin is an uncomfortable condition with typical symptoms of
scaling, itching or cracking skin. ese symptoms are very common during
the winter months because there is less moisture in the air. Dry skin can
occur anywhere on the body, but the legs, arms and abdomen are the most
common areas. Some tips to avoid dry skin are:
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Keep your skin hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water a day.
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Protect your face, lips and hands with a scarf, gloves and lip balm.
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Avoid hot, steamy showers, because they can dry out your skin. Try
lukewarm showers, and keep the time in the shower short.
A er showering, towel dry but try to leave your skin a little moist and
then apply moisturizers.
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Use mild, fragrance-free soap that moisturizes as it cleans.
If the problem persists, make an appointment to see us and we can help
you.
Q
What’s the difference between a cold and the flu?
A.
With a cold, you o en experience a runny nose, congestion and
mucus drainage down the back of your throat, causing a cough and a full or
uid feeling in your ears. ere is no medication to kill the more common
viruses that cause cold symptoms, so we treat the symptoms with over-the-
counter medication—no prescription required. ese medications include
antihistamines (Claritin, Allegra, Zyrtec), decongestants (Sudafed) and
expectorants (Mucinex).
With the u, you o en experience more severe symptoms, including
high fever, body aches, and feeling very run-down or tired. e u is caused
by the in uenza virus, and we can test for it by swabbing deep within your
nose. Unlike the common cold, the u can be treated. If you have u-like
symptoms and are seen within two days of when the symptoms began,
prescription medication can be given to help shorten the length of the illness.
To avoid getting the u, we recommend getting yearly u shots.
Wynne
Barnhart, PA-C
Internal Medicine
Medical Arts
Building 2,
Suite 230
1510 Columbus Ave.,
Washington Court
House
740-333-3333
Joel Rice, CNP
Family Medicine
Medical Arts
Building 2,
Suite 230
1510 Columbus Ave.,
Washington Court
House
740-333-3333
Rita Storts, CNP
Family Medicine
Medical Arts
Building 2,
Suite 230
1510 Columbus Ave.,
Washington Court
House
740-333-3333
