Winter Cholesterol Reduction and Health Preservation: Key Points for Nourishing the Kidneys, Protecting Against Cold, and Preventing Complications

**Precautions for patients with hyperlipidemia during winter**

The "Suwen·Treatise on Regulating the Spirit in Accordance with the Four Seasons" states: "The three months of winter are called the period of closure and storage. Water freezes and the earth cracks. Do not disturb the yang. Go to bed early and get up late, waiting for the sunlight. Keep your mind as if you are hiding or concealing something, as if you have a secret thought or have already gained something. Avoid the cold and seek warmth. Do not expose your skin, lest your qi be quickly depleted. This is the proper response to the winter qi and the way to nourish and store. Going against this will injure the kidneys, leading to weakness and paralysis in spring, and a diminished capacity for life."

This means that the three months of winter are a season of "closed-off and hidden" life force, a time of dormancy. Water freezes, the ground cracks, and people should not disturb the yang energy. They should go to bed early and rise late, getting up only after sunrise, so that their will is dormant, as if harboring a secret desire, or as if they have already gained something. They must also avoid the cold and stay warm, preventing their skin from opening and sweating. This is the way to adapt to the dormancy of winter. If this principle is violated, the kidneys will be damaged, and in spring, they will suffer from weakness and paralysis, and their ability to provide nourishment for spring will be weakened.

**①Suitable for winter storage and preservation**

The Suwen (Plain Questions) chapter on Water and Heat Acupoints states: "In winter, the yang energy declines and the yin energy flourishes, while the great yang energy lies dormant..." This means that in the cold winter, nature presents a state of yin dominance and yang deficiency, and the yang energy is hidden within.

Therefore, the basic principle of winter health preservation is to follow the principle of storing Yang energy, taking the preservation of Yin and protection of Yang as the fundamental approach, which is called "nourishing and storing" in traditional Chinese medicine. Thus, in daily life, one should "avoid cold and seek warmth," preventing the leakage of Yang energy; mentally, one should cherish and retain any gains made.

② **Nourishing the Kidneys in Winter**

The kidney contains true yin and true yang. The yin of the five internal organs cannot be nourished without kidney yin, and the yang of the five internal organs cannot be nourished without kidney yang. Kidney yin is the basic substance for growth and development, while kidney yang is the basic driving force for activity. Kidney yin is the material basis of kidney yang, and kidney yang is the functional manifestation of kidney yin.

The winter solstice is the day with the longest night and shortest day in the northern hemisphere of the Earth. After the winter solstice, the sun moves northward, the days gradually lengthen, and the nights shorten. The natural waxing and waning of Yin and Yang also begins to reverse from this day, that is, after the winter solstice, "the extreme of Yin and the beginning of Yang."

Humans are born between heaven and earth, endowed with the energies of Yin and Yang. The changes in Yin and Yang within the body are closely related to those in nature. Winter corresponds to the kidneys among the five internal organs, and the Yin and Yang of the body originate from the kidneys. Therefore, the focus of health preservation in winter is to regulate the Yin and Yang of the kidneys. "The kidneys govern hibernation and are the foundation of storage." Thus, nourishing the kidneys in winter requires caution in sexual activity, preserving essence and blood, and avoiding excessive sexual activity to prevent damage to kidney Qi and affecting health in the coming year. As the *Neijing* (Inner Canon of Medicine) states, "If one does not conserve essence in winter, one will surely fall ill in spring."

**Winter Warmth Protection**

Cold is the dominant qi of winter. Cold evil belongs to yin evil, easily damaging yang qi, leading to weakened metabolism and symptoms of yang deficiency such as cold hands and feet, and a preference for warmth. It can also easily trigger many diseases or cause relapses and aggravation of old illnesses. Cold can cause peripheral vasoconstriction, increasing circulatory resistance, and can increase blood viscosity and capillary fragility, thereby inducing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Elderly people, in particular, have reduced thermoregulation and are especially sensitive to cold stimuli.

Cold weather has the most significant impact on the respiratory system, reducing its defenses and triggering respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. Therefore, winter health preservation should focus on preventing the invasion of severe cold. Measures to keep warm are essential in terms of clothing and home décor. However, "warm" does not mean "hot." Maintaining a room temperature of 20-23℃ is most suitable in winter; excessively high temperatures are actually detrimental to health.

**Key Points for Winter Health Care for Patients with Hyperlipidemia**

As temperatures drop, the body's physiological functions also change. Climate change can have various effects on human health, and many diseases tend to flare up at this time. Therefore, winter health care should be approached with caution.

**Take care to keep warm.**

Patients with hyperlipidemia should take precautions against the cold and avoid exposure to severe cold during winter. Especially when a cold wave hits and temperatures drop suddenly, they should add clothing promptly. Their diet should include plenty of high-calorie and nutrient-rich foods such as lean meat, chicken, fish, dairy products, and soy products, while limiting oily foods. Smoking and alcohol consumption should be avoided, and regular bowel movements should be maintained.

**Maintain physical exercise**

Patients with hyperlipidemia should persist in physical exercise to improve their cold resistance. They can choose some recreational activities that they are capable of, such as outdoor walks, Tai Chi, and Qigong, but they should not exercise in the cold morning or stay in air-conditioned rooms for a long time. They should keep the air circulating.

**③Appropriately control emotions**

Many diseases are closely related to psychological state. Winter is a season of yin dominance and yang decline in nature, a time of dormancy for all things. Maintaining a cheerful mood helps to preserve yang energy, thus conserving yin and nourishing essence. For patients with hyperlipidemia, an optimistic and cheerful mood can improve their condition and prevent complications.

**Regular physical examinations are recommended.**

Winter is a season when people are prone to influenza, rhinitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, and other illnesses. Prevention and active treatment are crucial. Regular blood lipid monitoring is essential, and those who can afford it should also have regular checkups including blood pressure, blood sugar, electrocardiogram (ECG), and electroencephalogram (EEG). Any abnormalities should be addressed promptly to effectively prevent and treat complications.

**There are some things to consider when taking a hot bath in winter.**

**The water temperature should not be too high.**

Hot water can dilate blood vessels on the skin, accelerate blood circulation, promote the excretion of metabolic waste, and has a stronger fat-removing effect than cold water. In winter, the water temperature for hot baths should be controlled between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius.

High water temperature can excite the sympathetic nervous system, causing blood pressure to rise and blood vessels in the skin to dilate, leading to a drop in blood pressure. In older adults, the blood pressure regulation mechanism is weakened, and excessively low blood pressure can cause a stroke.

Spending too much time in a hot bath, especially with the bathroom windows closed and the air thin, coupled with excessive sweating and increased blood viscosity, puts a greater burden on the heart, which can lead to arrhythmia or even more serious consequences.

**The time should not be too long.**

A bath should not be too long, preferably no more than half an hour. This is because a hot bath causes a large amount of blood to concentrate on the surface of the body, and a prolonged bath can easily lead to fatigue, affect the blood supply to internal organs, and inhibit brain function.

**③The frequency should not be too high.**

Winter is a season for storing Yang energy, and excessive sweating should be avoided to prevent the depletion of this energy. Therefore, hot baths should not be taken too frequently in winter, ideally once a week. Otherwise, excessive sweating will disturb the Yang energy, which is detrimental to winter health.

**Choose the right time**

Do not take a hot bath immediately after meals, as this may reduce blood flow to the digestive tract, affecting the digestion and absorption of food. Over time, it may also cause gastrointestinal diseases. Hot baths should not be taken on an empty stomach, as this may cause hypoglycemia, leading to fatigue, dizziness, palpitations, or even collapse. Hot baths should also be avoided when excessively fatigued, as this may increase physical exertion and cause discomfort.

In addition, for safety reasons, especially for the elderly, the pool should not be too full when bathing. It is best to bathe halfway up the body. If the water is deeper than the chest, it will increase the burden on the heart and lungs. After bathing, dry off and put on clothes in time to prevent catching a cold, replenish water, and rest quietly.

**Winter Warmth Measures**

In winter, it is essential to make thorough preparations for keeping warm and protecting against the cold to effectively prevent illnesses from worsening during the harsh season.

**① Insulation measures for the room**

In winter, the temperature in each room should be kept around 20℃. Curling up and relying on a stove for warmth only warms the lower body, while the upper body remains exposed to the cold environment, causing poor blood circulation in the shoulders and neck, which can easily lead to shoulder pain and headaches.

**Sports for Cold Protection**

To prevent cold and maintain health, one should engage in appropriate physical exercise to enhance the body's ability to resist cold and disease. When working or exercising, one should not be too strenuous to avoid excessive sweating, which can lead to depletion of yin essence and dissipation of yang energy.

③ **Keep warm in your diet**

In terms of diet, it is advisable to choose foods that warm the kidneys and strengthen yang, such as mutton and dog meat, which can help resist the invasion of cold pathogens. The diet should not be too salty, because salt enters the kidneys, making the kidney water colder, which is not conducive to invigorating the heart yang. Cold foods should be avoided to prevent damage to kidney yang.

**Foot soak and massage before bed**

Soaking your feet in hot water and massaging the soles of your feet before bed can help dispel cold and promote Yang energy. Regular sunbathing can also help promote the rise of Yang energy. The bladder meridian runs along the back, making it the first place affected by cold pathogens. Therefore, it is important to keep your back warm to prevent the invasion of cold pathogens.

**Preventing Complications in Winter**

In the cold winter, various illnesses tend to follow. This is particularly detrimental to people with hyperlipidemia. Therefore, patients with this condition should take precautions against the cold and keep warm in their daily lives.

**Stroke Prevention**

The increased risk of stroke in winter is mainly due to the frequent occurrence of cold weather, and symptoms often appear within about 72 hours of a sudden drop in temperature. Therefore, people with hyperlipidemia must understand the relationship between seasonal changes and stroke, take precautions against the cold, and use medication to prevent stroke.

**②Preventing High Blood Pressure**

Hyperlipidemia is more common among middle-aged and elderly people, who have poor adaptability to changes in environmental temperature. When exposed to cold, their bodies secrete more adrenaline, and their blood vessels constrict, causing a significant rise in blood pressure. Therefore, patients with hyperlipidemia and hypertension should pay extra attention to keeping warm during seasonal changes to avoid more dangerous consequences.

**③Preventing coronary heart disease attacks**

The onset of hypertension is closely related to environmental factors, and the occurrence of coronary heart disease is also closely related to temperature changes. In late autumn, cold air activity is frequent. Stimulated by cold air, people are prone to increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and sympathetic nerve excitation, leading to increased myocardial oxygen consumption. Patients with hyperlipidemia and coronary heart disease are likely to experience coronary artery spasm, which slows blood flow in the coronary arteries and reduces cardiac output. Persistent and repeated spasms can lead to complete blockage of the coronary arteries, easily triggering angina and acute myocardial infarction.

In addition, the large temperature difference between indoors and outdoors during winter can repeatedly irritate the patient's skin, potentially triggering a disease flare-up. Therefore, patients with hyperlipidemia and coronary heart disease should not neglect keeping warm during cold weather.