Today marks the Minor Cold, one of the twenty-four solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. Astronomical experts say that the Minor Cold falls during the coldest period of the year, known as the "Third Nine Days," and the public should take precautions to stay warm.
The coldest time is during the Lesser Cold.
Astronomers say that the period between Lesser Cold and Greater Cold is generally the coldest time of year in most parts of my country, as the saying goes, "the coldest days are during the third nine-day period." The third nine-day period usually falls between January 9th and 17th, which also happens to fall within the Lesser Cold solar term. The reason for the cold weather around Lesser Cold is due to the frequent activity of strong cold air masses and cold fronts in early January.
During the Lesser Cold season, the average temperature in most parts of North my country is generally around -5℃, with extreme minimum temperatures below -15℃; in northern Northeast China, the average temperature is around -30℃, with extreme minimum temperatures reaching below -50℃, and the average afternoon maximum temperature is no more than -20℃.
Meteorological experts remind the public that each cold air outbreak causes drastic changes in meteorological elements such as air pressure, temperature, and humidity, which people often find difficult to adapt to and are susceptible to various illnesses, such as respiratory diseases. Therefore, during the Lesser Cold season, people should take precautions against the cold and illness, pay attention to adding layers of clothing to keep warm, secure doors, windows, fences, sheds, and other structures that are easily blown by strong winds, properly store outdoor items that are susceptible to strong winds, and ensure that relevant emergency response departments are ready to activate emergency plans at any time.
Warm my feet
As the saying goes, "Cold enters from the feet." During the Lesser Cold season, the public should pay special attention to keeping their feet warm. Health experts point out that Traditional Chinese Medicine believes the human body is an integrated system, and the feet can reflect the health of internal organs. Conversely, protecting the feet can enhance the function of internal organs. Therefore, don't think of keeping your feet warm as just localized warmth; in fact, keeping your feet warm is a form of overall protection against cold and disease.
The best way to deal with cold feet is to soak them in hot water before bed and then vigorously massage the soles of your feet. There's an old saying: "To live a long life, keep your head cool, your feet warm, and eat until you're 80% full." So after dinner, rest for a while, prepare a basin of hot water, and soak your feet while watching TV. This not only keeps you warm but also nourishes your kidneys, strengthens your body, relieves fatigue, promotes sleep, slows aging, and prevents disease.
Wear a hat when going out
Health experts point out that the head and the entire body have a close relationship on thermal balance. There's a saying that "wearing a cotton hat in winter is like wearing a cotton-padded coat." In cold conditions, if you're simply dressed warmly without a hat, body heat will quickly dissipate from the head. This heat loss is quite significant. Wearing a hat outdoors in winter, even a thin one, provides very noticeable protection against the cold.
In the cold winter, many people like to wear masks when going out. Health experts say that wearing masks can indeed prevent respiratory diseases and protect against the cold. However, masks must cover both the mouth and nose, and it's important to keep them clean. Teenagers and adults are not encouraged to wear masks excessively; they should instead regularly expose themselves to the cold to increase their immunity, which is beneficial to their health.
Don't cover your head while sleeping
In winter, air pressure is low, and the oxygen content in the air is relatively reduced. Indoors, to keep warm, doors and windows are often tightly closed, resulting in poor ventilation. This further reduces indoor oxygen levels, often causing feelings of oppression and chest tightness. Many people like to sleep with their heads covered, especially in winter when temperatures are low; some even bury their head, face, mouth, and nose entirely under the covers. Health experts warn that this will lead to insufficient oxygen in limited indoor air quality. The harm of sleeping with your head covered also lies in the poor ventilation and stale air inside the blankets. The body cannot perform normal gas exchange, causing a decrease in fresh oxygen and an increase in carbon dioxide, easily leading to symptoms of hypoxia. In severe cases, hypoxia can cause nightmares, mental fear, and sudden awakenings. Over time, it can even lead to sequelae such as neurasthenia.
