Much like heat, there are dangers with cold weather that many don't think about. It's worth being aware, most of them are easily avoided, or when not avoided, at least remedied.

Dehydration can be a slow killer by itself, but quickly becomes a contributing factor when you have compromised health in other ways. Your brain (cognitive abilties, response times, emotional stability,) goes downhill fast when it starts to dry out, your skin doesn't heal from small scratches and scrapes as quickly as it should, your liver and kidneys suffer, even your production of new blood cells drops when your fluid levels aren't supporting the plasma to support the cells. People often suffer worse in the winter because they associate dehydration with getting lost on a summer hike. They don't realize it's happening when they sweat under their coat while shoveling the driveway, then get into their car with a slightly dried brain, and go play in traffic with all the other people who did the same thing, and are surprised that their impeccable driving skills and reflexes didn't save them.

Go back in for some hot cider or cocoa, call your boss and say you'll be late. You might still get there before he or she does.

"Frostbite" - yeah, it's still a thing. The cold feels so invigorating, and I'm warm enough as long as I keep walking, right? So wrong. When you get cold, your body may, at first, try to warm your skin by increasing blood flow to surface capillaries, giving that flushed look that's so cute when the children come in from playing outside. That should NOT be counted on to do much for you, it doesn't last long. After the flush of red on your cheeks and nose, comes paleness, as your body tries to keep your core temperature at a safe level. After a bit, you get tingling, then numbness in the extremities, vision may suffer (another one of those effects made worse by dehydration,) fine motor skills go downhill too, and the shivering sets in. If you can't get warmed up, you'll be in serious trouble, but good luck getting your key in the lock.

Wear a hat, scarf, sensible boots, mittens (not gloves, unless they're shooters' gloves with a mitten end you can pull over your fingers.) Wear wool socks, good ones. Get silk "sock liners" to wear under them if you need to. Or the ones with batteries. Buy thermal under layers, and t-shirts, and flannel shirts, and so on. Layers save. Use pocket warmers, hand warmers, toe warmers, whatever.

Nutrition, yes, especially in winter. It's not about just eating whatever's hot, I can microwave garbage and kennel sweepings for mere "heat." Nutrition means getting old-fashioned with your food, and making sure you get what you need. Exposed to colds and flu? The vitamins in a hot veggie casserole or ratatouille will help. Dry, damaged skin and cracked lips? Get into some of mom's chicken soup.

Taking care of yourself is something you have to start doing now, you don't know if you'll have another chance to start later.