Air hardening: a smart approach to your own health. Air hardening Air baths start with a temperature

Is it possible not to catch a cold at all and thereby protect yourself from a large number enough serious illnesses? Yes, it's possible. A striking example to that - "walruses" - lovers of winter swimming in icy water. Exposing their body to extremely strong cold irritation, they do not catch colds, do not suffer from sore throats, bronchitis, and even a runny nose! But among them there are quite a lot of elderly and elderly people. They are not afraid of the cold, because they have hardened, trained their vascular reactions and got the opportunity to swim even in winter on outdoors.

Properly carried out hardening serves not only as a prophylactic against colds, but also normalizes impaired body functions, primarily the activity of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems as well as the psyche. During hardening procedures, due to the rapid change in vasoconstrictor and vasodilator reactions, training occurs blood vessels. As a result, the blood circulation of the outer integument of the body and internal organs, especially the heart and kidneys, improves. Tempering procedures help to reduce and even completely eliminate irritability, weakness, fatigue, normalize sleep, increase physical and mental performance, and increase emotional tone. The general result of hardening is the strengthening of the body's natural non-specific resistance, the activation of its protective and adaptive reactions, due to which a person becomes immune to many diseases, including infectious ones.

The main condition for successful hardening of the body is the systematic conduct of appropriate air and water procedures. The best time for hardening procedures is the morning hours immediately after sleep. For beginners to harden, the most suitable time of the year is the end of spring, the beginning of summer (May, June). Depending on the time of year and the state of health, different methods of hardening should be used.

Air and sun baths

Air baths

The impact of air baths on the skin of a person mobilizes his protective and adaptive reactions, increases the body's resistance to colds and infectious diseases. Air baths train the apparatus of thermoregulation, enhance the excretory functions of the body, improve the condition of the skin, and have a calming effect on the nervous system.

The influence of air baths on the body can be compared with the influence of water procedures: the effect of both is more significant, the greater the difference between the temperature of the body and air or water.

When taking air baths in the open air, it is necessary to take into account the influence of the wind, which enhances their effect. Creating a change in temperature by the constant movement of its particles, the air excites the skin receptors on the exposed parts of the body; the wind, as it were, massages the skin, causing fluctuations in the lumens of its blood vessels. The movement of air reflexively enhances the processes of heat generation and increases heat transfer.

Air baths are taken in shaded places. In the fresh air, it is recommended to start them when there is no wind, and later, as you get used to the action of cool air, they can be done when light breeze. For a practical assessment of the strength of the wind, the following characteristics are used: calm (calm) - the leaves on the trees do not sway, the smoke rises vertically or almost vertically; light puff - a slight movement of the leaves, the smoke deviates from the vertical; light wind - only the leaves on the trees sway; fresh wind - small branches on the trees sway; strong wind- large tree branches sway, dust rises.

It is best to start hardening with air baths in summer time at an air temperature of 20-22 ° C, then, as the air temperature decreases, gradually accustom your body to a cooler mode of air baths. The first air baths are recommended to be taken in the room, since even in warm summer weather any slight movement of air significantly enhances the effect of the air bath, which is undesirable for the first procedures. After 2-3 days, the air bath can be done outdoors.

The first baths last no more than 5 minutes, then the duration of the procedure increases daily by 5 minutes and is brought to 40-60 minutes. In summer, air baths can be taken 1-2 times a day (morning and evening until 18:00).

If hardening with air baths begins in winter, then the room in which this procedure will be carried out is thoroughly ventilated beforehand and the temperature in it is brought to 20 ° C, then an air bath is also taken for 5 minutes. As you get used to the initial air temperature, they begin to gradually reduce the temperature in the room to 8-10 ° C, the duration of the bath is also gradually increased to 30-40 minutes.

During the air bath (winter and summer) it is very useful to do gymnastics, and after it to do water procedures.

Air baths are not recommended for exhaustion or severe weakness, during acute infectious and colds, with decompensated heart defects, exacerbation of coronary heart disease, in the acute period of polyarthritis, sciatica.

sunbathing

The rays of the sun, acting on the human body, cause various changes in it. So, infrared, red and orange rays of the solar spectrum have a predominantly thermal effect, yellow and green act mainly on visual analyzers; blue, violet and ultraviolet rays to a greater extent affect the biochemical processes in the body. The ultraviolet part of the solar spectrum, in addition, has a significant bactericidal effect both directly on microbial cells located on the surface of the skin, and indirectly through activation protective properties blood.

Energy absorbed by tissues sun rays causes complex biochemical transformations not only in the cellular elements of the skin, but also in the nerve endings. Irritations of skin receptors are summarized in the subcortical formations of the brain, where they switch to the nerve pathways leading to the internal organs. Ultimately, there are changes in the functional state of the most important physiological systems, the tone of the body increases, and, consequently, its performance, sleep and mood improve.

Properly accepted sunbathing causes slight reddening of the skin and a slight sensation of warmth. Redness quickly disappears after the end of the procedure. During a sunbath, the skin temperature rises by 4-8°C in 15-20 minutes, and 10 minutes after the end of irradiation, it decreases to its original level. In tissues lying at a depth of 2-3 cm, the temperature sometimes reaches 40°C, but after the procedure it returns to normal within 40-50 minutes.

With a moderate dosage, a sunbath does not have a lasting effect on body temperature, its fluctuations do not exceed a few fractions of a degree. In children, an increase in temperature by 1 ° C and its subsequent decrease to normal within an hour is considered a normal reaction.

With too long exposure to sunlight, various painful symptoms caused by overheating of the body may appear. For example, there is a strong expansion of the skin vessels, a drop in blood pressure, prolonged nervous excitement, and insomnia. Excessive use of sunlight leads to burns.

For the correct conduct of air and sunbathing, it is of great importance to take into account individual meteorological factors: temperature, humidity and air movement. It is also necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of a person - sensitivity to solar radiation, the speed of the appearance of a skin reaction, its duration and intensity, as well as general state health. Sunbathing is best taken in the morning between 8 am and 12 noon, as ultraviolet and infrared radiation is less intense in the morning hours. The duration of the sun-air bath in the first days should not exceed 10-15 minutes, then its duration increases daily by 5 minutes. After the appearance of sunburn, a sunbath can be taken for 1 hour every day. If after the bath the pulse quickens or becomes irregular, then this procedure should be temporarily stopped.

10-15 minutes after a sunbath, it is useful to douse the whole body with water at a temperature of 20-25 ° C or take a swim.

Good health is a sign of the correct use of sunbathing: efficiency increases, appetite improves, sleep becomes sound. You should refrain from sunbathing in case of acute infectious diseases, decompensated heart defects, hypertension, tendency to bleed, frequent headaches, epilepsy, excessive skin sensitivity to sunlight.

Hardening water treatments

General cool and cold water procedures cause significant heat loss by the body and the more, the colder the water and the longer the procedure, with the greatest heat loss occurring in the first minutes; in the future, this process slows down. The repeated action of cold water creates conditions for the development of reactions that reduce heat transfer and increase heat production, i.e. contributes to the improvement of metabolism and, consequently, the increased formation of internal heat in the body.

Cool and cold hardening procedures can only be continued if the person does not feel chills, if his skin is warm, especially on the limbs. The initial temperature of the water during these procedures should be indifferent (34-35°C°C) or pleasantly cool (30-33°C), allowing you to transfer it completely calmly, without irritation. The use of hardening procedures eliminates sudden irritation with low temperature water. Only after a sufficiently long use of indifferent or cool water procedures (at least 1-2 weeks), the water temperature is gradually reduced to 14-12 ° C and lower, depending on the individual characteristics of the person.

Rubdowns usually begin from the upper body, and in the early days only hands are wiped from the hands to the shoulder with a towel or sponge dipped in water. room temperature. Produce them uniform fairly fast movements. Then both hands are rubbed with a dry terry towel until the skin is slightly reddened.

After 3-5 days, they begin to wipe the upper body: with a wet, slightly wrung out towel, mitten or sponge, they quickly wipe their hands, then their chest and back, and then rub them with a dry towel, trying to cause reddening of the skin.

After 2 weeks, the whole body is wiped, starting with the arms, then the chest and stomach, and finally the back and legs. This whole procedure is carried out for no more than 2-3 minutes, it ends with vigorous rubbing of the whole body with a dry terry towel until a feeling of pleasant warmth appears.

Persons of the elderly and aged, as well as those with increased sensitivity to cold, wipe the body only in parts: after wetting one hand, rub it with a dry towel, then wet the other hand and immediately dry it with a towel; in the same way alternately wet and immediately rub the chest, stomach, back and each leg separately with a dry terry towel.

After 7-10 days of complete rubbing of the body, it is necessary to start lowering the water temperature by 1°C every 3-5 days and thus gradually (within 30-40 days) bring the water temperature to 12-14°C. Continue doing a full wipe cold water daily for 2 months, after which you can move on to more powerful procedures (douches and baths).

Rubbing is done in the morning immediately after waking up or after morning exercises, since it has, in addition to a hardening effect, a tonic effect, gives vigor, relieves relaxation, sometimes observed after sleep.

With a slight change, rubbing can also be done in the evening before bedtime to calm nervous excitement, improve sleep and its disturbances (insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, shallow superficial sleep, waking up too early). In this case, the water should not be cold, and after wiping the skin, do not dry it with a towel, but put dry underwear on the wet body and immediately lie down in bed, tightly tucking the blanket on all sides.

The difference in the action of morning and evening sponging is explained by the different influence final stage procedures. In the first case, intense rubbing of the body with a dry towel until the skin becomes reddened simultaneously with blood flow causes irritation of the skin receptors, which increases the overall motor activity and causing a feeling of freshness and cheerfulness; in another case, the gradual drying of the skin (under the covers) does not cause irritation of the skin receptors, but, on the contrary, promotes muscle relaxation, relieves their tension and creates conditions for the development of sleep inhibition.

Pouring

After 1-2 months of daily rubdowns, an even more effective procedure can be used - dousing, first only on the hands, then on the arms and legs, and finally, dousing the whole body.

The procedure is performed as follows: in the first week, the shoulders, forearms and hands are poured with water at a temperature of 20 ° C. After dousing, the skin of the hands is rubbed with a terry towel and self-massage of the muscles is done. During the second week, pouring the feet with water of the same temperature is added to the dousing of the hands, followed by rubbing with a dry towel and self-massage of the muscles of the arms and legs. After 2 weeks, they begin to pour over the entire body in the following sequence: arms, legs, then a stream of water is directed to the lower part of the body from behind and in front, after which they pour over the upper part of the body - the chest and back. Immediately after dousing, the body is rubbed with a terry towel and self-massage of the muscles of the arms, legs, back and abdomen is done. Approximately a week after the start of full dousing, the water temperature begins to gradually decrease (by 1 ° C every 3 procedures) and bring it to 12-14 ° C. Further lowering of the water temperature is not recommended.

One of the initial hardening procedures is dousing the legs. The procedure is done as follows; stand in a bath or basin, pour cool water (17-18 ° C) on your legs, starting from the knees, for about 5 seconds. Every 3 days lower the water temperature by 1°C, minimum temperature should not be lower than 12-14°C. Immediately after dousing, rub your feet strongly with a dry terry towel until the skin turns pink, starting from the toes towards knee joint, which is wiped last.

Cool foot bath: pour water at a temperature of 18-20 ° C into a tank or a large bucket, sit on a chair, lower both legs into the water up to the knees. The duration of the first three foot baths should not exceed 1 minute, then it is increased to 2 minutes, and after the 6th procedure - up to 3 minutes. In the future, without increasing the duration of the bath, reduce the water temperature by 1°C every 2-3 procedures and bring it up to 14°C

After the bath, the legs are rubbed with a dry terry towel and self-massage of the calf muscles is done.

Cool foot baths are a good hardening agent, in addition, they can be used to prevent the expansion of the veins of the lower extremities.

In summer, hardening can begin with walking barefoot on the grass, wet after rain or dew, on wet stones, wet sand. In winter, you can walk barefoot on the floor of the room. In the first days, the procedure time is limited to 3-5 minutes, then gradually increases by 1-2 minutes and is brought to 15-20 minutes. After each procedure, the legs are poured with water at room temperature (18-22 ° C), thoroughly wiped with a dry terry towel and put on stockings or socks.

After 2-3 weeks, the effect of the procedure can be enhanced by applying "walking on water". This is done as follows: water at a temperature of 18-20 ° C is poured into the basin, the legs are immersed to the ankles and a “step in place” is taken. The duration of the procedure in the first days is 30 s. Gradually, the procedure time increases first to 1-1.5 minutes, then to 2-3 minutes. The water temperature is also gradually reduced every 3 days by 1°C and brought to 12-14°C. The action of this procedure becomes more effective as the water temperature decreases, as well as when the water level rises (maximum to the knees, in this case the procedure is done in the bath).

After walking on water, you need to pour water on your feet at room temperature and rub them vigorously, especially the feet, until a feeling of warmth and intense reddening of the skin appears.

All of the above procedures for the legs are not only very effective for the prevention of colds (acute catarrhs ​​of the upper respiratory tract, runny nose, tracheitis, bronchitis, influenza, tonsillitis), but also, thanks to the training of the blood vessels of the legs, they prevent or slow down the development of senile changes in the osteoarticular apparatus of the lower extremities. .

The procedure for hardening with the help of air baths has been known for a long time. It's lightweight and effective method increase the defenses of your body and strengthen weakened immunity.

Fresh air helps everyone relieve fatigue, gives strength and energy, so taking air procedures is very useful for a person. Air baths contribute to the hardening of not only children, but also adults. Short-term skin exposure without clothing sunlight and air is good for health. Today there is a treatment with air baths according to different methods. This method is so effective that it is recommended even for a newborn baby.

The air is saturated with oxygen, phytoncides and other substances, and the skin absorbs all these useful elements with pleasure when we take baths. IN modern world on the skin there are constantly layers of clothing, between which a layer of air with a certain temperature is formed. When people take air treatments in the open air, the body temperature changes, which contributes to effective hardening.

They take air baths to harden and invigorate themselves, but during the procedures you need to follow the basic rules:

• create cozy place for their reception in the open air;
• it is best to completely remove clothes;
• you can take baths in the shade quiet place, for example, under a wide tree.

Air baths according to air temperature are divided into cold, cool, warm temperature and hot. For such procedures, the body is exposed gradually, and for the first time you need to take warm look baths, not lower than 20 ° heat. If every morning you perform a useful ritual of taking baths in the fresh air, then the result will not be long in coming.

The first session should last no more than 10 minutes, and then the time is gradually increased, even up to two hours. After such an aero procedure, an ordinary bath, a contrast shower, as well as swimming in a river or pool in the warm season will be very effective. The time of preventive or therapeutic measures is gradually increased to 30 minutes.

We take air baths while sitting, lying down or standing. You can start a useful session on the street in warm weather, but not more than half an hour. It is best to gradually harden at home, and when the body gets used to it, go out into the fresh street air.

It is recommended to lie quietly on a hard surface for 10 minutes after taking a bath. When the first receptions are over and the body gets used to the new procedures, you can combine them with morning exercises. If we take baths constantly, then we will increase immunity and increase strength for everyday worries.

It is best to take baths in the air courses for three months. For effective treatment of certain diseases, experts advise using recreational activities for one year. All hardening methods are calculated on average, so it is important not to forget about your inner feelings and emotions. If weakness suddenly appears, then you need to stop the hardening session.

Contraindications

1. Air baths are prohibited during acute periods of illness, with high temperature body, weakened patients, with lung diseases.
2. If it is foggy or raining outside, you also do not need to do aero procedures.
3. For women during menstruation, air prophylaxis is undesirable.
4. If a person feels unwell or weakens under the influence of fresh air, then you should stop taking baths.

But in the case of the appearance of "goose bumps" or slight dizziness, you should not be afraid, because the body usually reacts this way when we take air procedures for the first time.

The benefits of air baths for newborns

A simple and at the same time effective method is the adoption of baths for newborns. From the first day of the birth of a child, parents have the opportunity to harden using this method. The air temperature should be observed not lower than 23 °, but over time it can be lowered. At one year old, children are boldly undressed at 20 °. We take baths outside or in another convenient location, but it is better to temper the kids first inside the living quarters.

Temperature indicators must be carefully monitored, and if they have risen, then ventilate the room where the baby sleeps.

When the newborn's body gets stronger and the first hardening measures take place, you can take a walk at the same time as taking air and sunbathing. The baby may be wearing clothes that will not interfere with the wellness procedure. It is worth starting walks with a few minutes in winter time, and in the summer to walk in the fresh air for about 30 minutes twice a day.

The weather should be warm, without wind and scorching summer sun. Long walks in the sun are forbidden for small children, and it is better to take baths in shady places. It is necessary to ensure that the babies stop crying and acting up at this time, otherwise the procedures are stopped.

Such hardening of a newborn with air procedures is the easiest and most affordable action aimed at strengthening immunity. Children take baths with pleasure and then sleep much more peacefully.

Benefits of taking healing baths

Fresh air affects the skin nerve endings by changing the temperature, and through it all the systems of the internal organs of a person, especially the respiratory and cardiac systems. The elasticity of the skin increases, along with this, its work and thermoregulatory functions are improved.

Air baths are very relaxing after everyday life, as well as after tiring mental or physical labor. You need to take baths to instantly lift your mood and good spirits.

One of the main functions of the procedures is hardening, which increases resistance to various infectious diseases. For the purpose of excellent prevention of colds, they are taken by people of all ages. If you add rubbing with cold water and regular exercise to them, then their effectiveness will increase significantly.

Air baths are a type of aerotherapy (air treatment), which consists in the dosed effect of air on a naked body, protected from direct solar radiation.

At the same time, metabolism improves, as well as the tone of the muscular and nervous systems, the body's thermoregulation systems are trained, the emotional background calms down and normalizes, irritability decreases, appetite and sleep improve, mood rises and vigor is added. Blood pressure normalizes, blood flow accelerates, heart function and activity improve respiratory system. Protective capabilities increase and hardening of the body occurs, the risk of diseases decreases. Skin tone, color and structure are improved. Among other things, breathing in clean fresh air is in itself an incomparable joy and pleasure.
"You need to start air baths in the warm season, in summer. In the cold season, start taking air baths at home in a pre-ventilated room. As you harden, this procedure can be transferred to the street. "The optimal time for taking air baths is in the morning before or after light breakfast or in the evening before dinner.If you want to take an air bath in the afternoon, then you need to do this an hour or two after dinner.
Leave on a minimum of clothes - a swimsuit, a topic with shorts. This will be a partial air bath. It will give a partial effect, it is better to stay naked at all. You should undress quickly so that the air bath affects the entire surface of the naked body at once and causes a quick energetic reaction of the body. Now sit down and just relax or read. If there is no time, then combine taking an air bath with doing household chores.
» An air bath should be a pleasure. The main thing here is well-being. Its duration depends on the air temperature and health status. "For healthy person optimum temperature air - 15-20. Weak people should start with three minutes. For hardening, it is enough to increase the duration of the bath by 5-10 minutes from time to time. The average duration of an air bath at a comfortable air temperature is half an hour.
Take air baths as often as possible during the day. Experts believe that a person should remain naked for at least 2 hours a day. It is impossible to allow a feeling of chilliness, the appearance of "goosebumps". If you feel that you are freezing, get dressed immediately and get some exercise. In order not to be afraid of freezing, it is good to combine air baths with walking, running, gymnastic exercises, sports games.
Of course, the best air baths are where there are no industrial enterprises: near the forest, the sea or in the mountains. The ionized air of green areas is enriched with phytoncides - volatile ether compounds. In addition to a beneficial effect on the pulmonary system, phytoncides heal the heart, blood vessels, improve metabolism and tissue respiration, and have antimicrobial properties. Sea air enhances the absorption of ozone by the body, increases the level of hemoglobin and the number of red blood cells, stimulates mental and physical performance, improves sleep and appetite, and activates the immune system.
There are many tempering procedures that accustom a person to cold air. Don't wear overly warm clothes and expose your skin often. Sleep with the window open. Make it a rule, if the weather is good, to keep the windows open around the clock. In rainy or cold weather, ventilate the room at least three times a day.

The benefits of air hardening for the baby's body

Hardening does not apply to treatment methods, this is a preventive action, but if you follow this method of dealing with various colds, then parents can safely expect that their babies will have high stamina and a strong immune system.

The specificity of the method of hardening a baby from a very early age with air procedures leads to the development of a persistent protective factor in the body in relation to various types harmful bacteria and infections.

The technique of air procedures for newborns: how and how much time to harden?

Experts advise before carrying out procedures for hardening babies, get acquainted with the basic principles of their impact on children's body. Before starting the course, doctors advise paying special attention to the following factors:

• Individual characteristics and approach.
• The sequence of the procedures.
• Systematic implementation with a gradual increase in impact factors.
• Mixing general principles hardening with local.
• Gradual adaptation to new types of loads during hardening by air baths of newborns.

Airing the apartment

The beginning of the course of hardening of newborns is the ventilation of the premises in which they are located. If the baby does not have individual prohibitions, regardless of the season, the room should be systematically ventilated. If it is too cold outside (from -100C), you only need to use the window, opening it for 15-20 minutes, monitoring the air temperature in the room. Experts advise to ventilate the premises in the following format:

• For newborns, whose doctors have recognized them as absolutely healthy, ventilation of the premises should be carried out 3-4 times a day with an increase in procedures up to 7-9 times.
• For children who have minor health problems, airing is performed 2-3 times a day. After the child's health is fully improved, the number of procedures increases.
• For infants who have colds with the threat of becoming chronic, hardening is carried out in a gentle mode: at the time of airing, the baby is taken out of the room and returned when the window (window) is closed. In the future, the number of procedures is gradually increased and, with obvious improvements, brought to the standards that apply to healthy children.

In all cases, initially, during ventilation, the temperature drop in the room where the newborn is located should not fall by more than 3-4 degrees. Later, provided that the baby responds well to the technique, the rooms are ventilated for a longer period.

With babies, with whom they begin to engage in this type of hardening from birth, there are practically no problems with hypothermia in the future. Getting into nurseries, kindergartens, schools and other children's institutions, where special attention is paid to ventilation, hardened children are much less likely to get colds than the category of babies that are commonly called "greenhouse".

Room air baths naked

Gradually, moving on to other procedures that harden the child's body, experts pay special attention to air baths, when the baby is completely undressed and allowed to stay in this position for some time. What are the benefits of such procedures and why babies are recommended this particular method of hardening from the very first days after birth:

• The baby becomes less susceptible to infections and colds.
• Thermoregulation in children who harden by taking naked air baths is noticeably improved: children are not capricious when the temperature changes, their behavior is calm, after the procedures the child remains active, but at the same time his sleep is calm.
• The skin of the child has the best protection in relation to lesions of the dermis and diseases that disturb babies during this period: prickly heat, diaper dermatitis and others.
• Children are distinguished by calmness, nervous breakdowns are not noticeable in their behavior, they are more active in development.
• Children have a good appetite.

Initially, naked hardening comes down to short-term undressing of the newborn at the time of changing diapers. As a rule, 2-4 minutes is enough for a child to get used to such procedures in a week. Further, the child can be undressed more often, play with him, perform gymnastic exercises development of the muscular and skeletal system. After the first three months, the duration of the procedures can be increased up to 15 minutes, with a decrease in the temperature in the room to 18-200C.

winter walks

Babies who are born in the summer, outdoor walks are allowed almost from the first birthdays. The main condition for mothers is the correct selection of clothes, with the condition that the newborn is not too hot, but at the same time, he was not exposed to drafts.

In not frosty winters, when the temperature drop does not exceed -50C, already at the 2nd week of life, mothers can take the baby outside for short walks in the fresh air. The first winter walks should take place in places where there are no strong drafts, accumulations of dust and other aggressive factors, for a period of time not exceeding 15 minutes. Gradually increasing the time spent on the street, already in the first 3 months of life, the baby can be in the fresh air from 30 to 50 minutes.

Outdoor walks should gradually increase in time of stay: for 6 month old babies, 2-3 outings a day from 1 to 1.5 hours is the norm. At the time of walks, mothers should provide the kids with a comfortable stay in the fresh air: pick up the right clothes, if necessary, use a blanket and other things so that the child does not freeze, but at the same time it is not too hot.

How can you determine that the newborn has the right set of warm clothes and that he is benefiting from walking in the fresh air:

• The child is not naughty, actively responds to toys suspended in the stroller.
• The baby quickly falls asleep, his breathing is regular.
• After returning from a walk, all the baby's things are dry, the child's skin is not sweaty and at the same time pink.

To the question: how long can you walk with a baby, it is rather difficult to answer. If during sleep the child has a bluish color under the eyes and on the cheeks, the nose becomes cold, the child is constantly tossing and turning - there are all signs of hypothermia on the face.

Sleep in the fresh air

The most useful moment of walking in the fresh air for a baby is daytime sleep. That is why, for the first months of a baby’s life, parents are recommended to buy strollers of such a format in which the baby could feel comfortable at the time of sleep while walking.

Young mothers often ask pediatricians a question: why does a child spin around during sleep, often rolls over, and falls asleep almost instantly while walking, and at the same time, his breathing is even, his complexion is pink, and the newborn himself is active and cheerful after such a rest. Fresh air, especially if walks are carried out in places where there is no dust, there is no loud noise, for example, in a park, gardens, squares, it is very useful for the body. At the time of sleep, the baby fully rests: his breathing is even and at the same time the child practically does not react to extraneous sounds. If the opportunities for walking are limited, experts recommend using balconies and loggias, putting the baby to sleep during the day, fully opening one of the windows, while making sure there are no drafts. In this case, the procedure for walking should be regular and at about the same time.

Contraindications to taking air baths in infants

Despite all the advantages of air baths, there are a number of contraindications that temporarily or completely prohibit such procedures.

• The presence of fever in the acute stage of colds.
• Baby's negative reaction
• Infectious diseases.
• Deterioration in baby's health: weight loss, appetite.
• The presence of genetic diseases that have passed into a chronic form.
• Prematurity.

If positive changes occur in the baby’s body with age, then only after the experts give permission, you can gradually accustom the baby to change temperature regime hardening method.

Air baths

Perhaps there is no need to talk about the benefits of air baths. We all know from childhood how healing their effect is. Staying on the beaches, sunbathing, swimming - all this charges us with vigor and health for a long time. Our body is saturated with oxygen, which means that metabolism improves, the risk of diseases decreases. Contrasting air baths, that is, alternate exposure and wrapping in warm clothes, bring even greater benefits.

Contrasting air baths

When performing these procedures, if possible, you need to expose the entire body. It is also necessary to remember that the clothes worn between exposures should be somewhat warmer than required for the season.

After performing the procedures, you should lie down for some time on a hard and even bed with a hard pillow.

When performing contrast air baths, you need to be naked in a room with open windows and keep warm by closing the windows. Warm clothes should be warm, but should not be allowed to overheat to the point of sweating. A sick and weakened person must be helped by someone.

It is best to choose the time of the procedure just before sunrise or until about 10 am, you can also do it in the evening, about 9 pm. The procedures last 30 days, then a break is made for 3-4 days, then again 30 days of treatment. This should be done for about 3 months, and in case of liver disease or other internal organs, treatment should be extended up to a year.

Often during treatment, unpleasant sensations occur: itching, discomfort or stomach pain. This is temporary and indicates the beginning of self-healing of the body.

You can take contrast air baths in the open air, if the weather conditions allow it. The technique is the same as indoors. It should only be remembered that warming clothes should be very warm; the warming time can be extended, but the exposure time must be strictly observed.

The first session (from 1 to 40 seconds) should lie on your back, from 40 to 70 seconds - on the right side, from 70 to 100 seconds - on the left side, from 10 to 110 seconds - again on the back.

When naked, you can rub the stiff parts of the body or do the “Goldfish” exercise, an exercise for capillaries, as well as for the back and abdomen. Having dressed, you need to lie down with your palms tightly closed over the solar plexus. And after completing the entire procedure, lie down for 10 minutes with closed feet and palms. Perform this procedure one hour before meals or 30-40 minutes after it, and not earlier than an hour after the bath.

The technique I propose not only enhances skin respiration, but also improves another function of the skin - excretory. Like the kidneys or other excretory organs, the skin removes harmful substances through the sweat glands.

The total area of ​​the skin surface of human skin is from 1.7 to 2.6 square meters. m. The approximate number of sweat glands is three million. Quantity sebaceous glands is approximately 250 thousand. The sebaceous glands secrete products of intestinal fermentation, iodine, bromine, antipyrine, salicylic acid.

Sweat glands secrete 600-900 g of sweat per day, and sometimes even up to 1400 g. It depends on the external temperature, the amount of fluid poured out, kidney failure, blood circulation intensity, conditions such as excitement, fear, anger, which increase sweating. During the development of subacute diseases, instead of an attack of fever, night sweats appear.

Sweat contains mineral salts, fatty acids, urea; lactic, formic, acetic acids. In a normal state, about 1 g of urea is excreted with one liter of sweat, in a diseased state, the amount of urea increases significantly. During illness, the sweat glands become more active to rid the body of toxins and other substances that cannot be excreted by the kidneys, lungs, and digestive tract. Their intense work during the acute period of illness is reminiscent of the efforts of sailors who pump water out of the hold of a ship that has been wrecked.

The size of the sweat glands is not the same: some of them can reach 3–4 mm, others do not exceed 0.1 mm. There are approximately 500 glands per square centimeter of the body surface, which means that the total area of ​​the sweat-producing surface is about 5 square meters. Comparing these figures, one can understand how important the excretory function of the skin is for the body. By strengthening the excretory function of the skin, we help cleanse the body of harmful substances.

Try licking your shoulder with your tongue after exercising, and you will taste the acrid taste of a mixture of acid and salt, much more unpleasant than the taste of pure salt. Moreover, sweat is poisonous. It is enough to let the animal swallow a small amount of sweat to cause its death.

Studies that were conducted to find out the reasons for feeling unwell or even fainting that occur when you stay in a room filled with people for a long time showed that the reason for this is an increase in the content of toxic products in the gases emitted human body, and not a lack of oxygen, as was previously believed.

So for healthy life cells from it must be removed toxins. Nature has created several ways in which these toxins are removed: lymphatic, venous vessels and ducts of the sweat glands. For tens of thousands of years, when primitive man ran all day in search of food and sweated all day, all three channels worked at full capacity. Modern man less mobile, moreover, he is constantly protected by clothing, often made of artificial, breathable fabrics. Therefore, all those poisons that could come out with sweat, a person carries in himself. As a result, the circulatory and lymphatic systems, and hence the liver and kidneys, work with overload. As a result of such an unnatural overload, people develop diseases of the liver, kidneys, Bladder and other organs. Therefore, in addition to carrying out medical procedures, I recommend not to spoil the skin with too warm clothes, more often to take it off in the open air.

We are machines that run on air. Oxygen is not only the purifier of our body, but also one of the greatest providers of the energy it needs. Fresh air, sunlight bring life energy to all life on Earth. Remember what a plant looks like when grown without sunlight, without fresh air - it seems lifeless. Every tiny leaf of grass, every vine, tree, bush, flower, fruit and vegetable draws its life from solar energy. Everything living on Earth depends on solar energy, on its intensity. Our Earth would be a lifelessly cold place, shrouded in eternal darkness, if it were not illuminated by the magical rays of the Sun. But the Sun gives us not only light, solar energy is transformed into human energy.

It has long been known that the skin is closely related to the protective reactions of the body. Clinical observations confirm that the skin performs a protective function in febrile diseases. Skin with all confidence can be called the grave of microbes. And sunbathing, being outdoors and especially playing sports in nature help to increase the protective functions of the skin.

It must be remembered that the effect of air on the human body depends primarily on its humidity: the same temperatures are perceived differently. Thus, increased air humidity at its high temperature contributes to overheating of the body, and when exercising under these conditions, overheating occurs faster. Therefore, if it is hot and humid at the same time, be careful during exercise, carefully control your sensations, it is especially important to catch the state of unpleasant strong heat.

At low temperatures, the moisture in the air hydrates your clothes and skin, and you may feel chills. This state should also be alarming. Thus, exposure to fresh air should not be uncontrolled, although many believe that a special technique for taking air baths is not required.

The same applies to sunbathing. Very often, people, trying to tan as quickly and as much as possible, do not follow the rules for sunbathing, and as a result, they are forced to sit out at home or in the shade for a week, or even more, due to burns.

It should also be remembered that if exposure to air has practically no contraindications, then sunbathing can be taken only after consulting a doctor. There are many reasons why sun exposure should be kept to a minimum. This applies to certain diseases of the heart, tuberculous lesions of internal organs, etc. Staying in the sun is very tiring for weakened people who have recently had an infectious disease, as well as those who are no longer young. Old man, who spent the whole day on the beach, may feel palpitations, shortness of breath, and unpleasant profuse sweat will appear.

An even, good tan can be obtained by using fractional exposure to the sun - that is, in small doses, taking breaks. And do not think that sunburn occurs only under the direct rays of the sun; dark shade the skin also acquires when taking air or sunbathing in aerosolaria, protected from direct sunlight by special ceilings, tree crowns. The healing effect occurs after taking small doses of solar radiation, and this effect is far ahead of the appearance of our favorite chocolate skin color. Even in cool weather, you can tan in clear weather, you just need to hide from the wind. But remember that sunbathing without medical recommendations, you will not always benefit yourself.

The basic principle of hardening by the sun is gradualness. At first, sunbathing can be taken up to 3 minutes, after 1-2 days their duration increases by 2-3 minutes. Thus, the duration of the procedure is brought to 50-60 minutes.

Sunbathing is best taken in the morning. The most useful tan is May. And a few more tips. Sunbathing is allowed only 2 hours after eating. It is best to take them on an empty stomach or just before a meal. Some mistakenly believe that the tighter the head is wrapped, the better it is protected from the sun's rays. But all kinds of turbans made of towels or hats made of newspapers interfere with normal heat transfer. Light white panama in this case is more appropriate.

Of course, air procedures are not limited to being outdoors during the warm season. There are many tempering procedures that accustom a person to cold air. Don't wear overly warm clothes and expose your skin often. Of course, you should not suddenly test the limits of your body's endurance, but constant training increases your strength reserves.

The life of the human body can be represented as a metabolism, and metabolism is possible only in the presence of oxygen. Moreover, we should all be interested in not experiencing oxygen deficiency, and a simple conclusion follows from this: we need to provide the skin with free access to fresh air as often as possible and in no case overheat it. There is even such a thing as thermal pollution. When we keep the skin in a clogged state, and even with overheating, we thereby open the way to disease.