These days, as the season changes and the mornings and evenings turn cold, my clinic starts to fill up with familiar faces, elderly patients walking in, wrapped in layers, carrying stories of aching joints, sleepless nights and the quiet fatigue that winter brings. Many others who cannot step out call for teleconsultations. It’s always the same worry beneath different complaints: the changing season has begun to show its effects.

Winter in Kashmir is not just about snow and warmth from a kangri; it’s about how the ageing body responds to the cold, often silently. Age slows down metabolism and reduces the body’s ability to regulate temperature, what we call impaired thermoregulation. Many seniors feel colder even in a heated room. Poor circulation, low thyroid function and general frailty make them vulnerable. Keeping them warm is not just about thicker blankets, but about balanced nutrition, mild activity and awareness.

Bone and Joints

Joint pains are among the first complaints I hear as temperatures drop. The science is simple, cold weather causes muscles to tighten and blood vessels to constrict, leading to stiffness and discomfort, especially in those with arthritis. Yet, many myths persist: some stop walking completely, fearing “wear and tear.” In truth, gentle movement, simple walking, safe indoor exercises and warmth therapy like hot compresses can ease stiffness far better than inactivity. The key is moderation, overexertion harms, but........

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