In winter, for middle-aged and elderly people, the cold weather is undoubtedly a huge challenge, the cold wind is biting, the temperature plummets, often people's body can not bear.
Many elderly people are more susceptible to illness during this season, and symptoms such as colds, coughs, and arthritis occur frequently.In particular, those who have underlying medical conditions will be exacerbated in winter.
What is the reason why winter has become the enemy of the health of middle-aged and elderly people, and how to prevent it in order to have a healthy winter?
If middle-aged and elderly people get sick frequently in winter,It is often caused by a variety of reasons such as decreased immunity and poor blood circulation。 In fact, many diseases do not occur for no reason, they are often caused by the accumulation of small problems stimulated by a cold environment.
Doctor's studies have shown that in order to avoid frequent illness, in addition to wearing warm clothes,There are also some small details that every middle-aged and elderly person needs to pay special attention to.
Many older people often focus on protecting their joints and keeping their neck and back warm in winter, but neglect the warmth of the stomach. In fact, gastrointestinal discomfort will directly affect the body's immunity, and may even cause problems such as gastroenteritis.
Especially for middle-aged and elderly people, due to the weak gastrointestinal function,Once stimulated by the cold, it is easy to cause symptoms such as indigestion and loss of appetite, and in severe cases, it may also lead to stomach ulcers, gastroenteritis and other diseases.
I once had a patient who had an upset stomach every winter,Especially in the cold morning or evening, there is always a feeling of flatulence in the stomach, and there is often acid reflux and nausea after eating.
After examination, the doctor found that his stomach had a slight inflammation due to the prolonged exposure to the cold, which led to problems with digestion.
The doctor told him that this condition is very common in middle-aged and elderly people, and the cold tolerance of the gastrointestinal tract is decreasing year by year,Cold air can cause irritation to the gastrointestinal tract and affect the secretion of digestive juices, which can cause discomfort.
To improve the situation, he was advised to pay special attention to keeping his stomach warm in winter, especially before and after eating, and avoiding exposure to cold.
Middle-aged and elderly people need to pay special attention to avoid blowing cold winds after eating, and they can also wear warm clothes appropriately to prevent the stomach from getting cold. Especially after a meal, avoid going directly into the cold air,You can use some hot water bottles or thermal insulation stickers on your abdomen to help warm your stomach.
The sharp drop in temperature in winter will bring greater pressure to the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular vessels.Most of the elderly have arteriosclerosis or arterial stenosis, and cold weather is more likely to increase the burden on blood vessels, resulting in blood pressure fluctuations, and even serious diseases such as stroke.
When I work in the hospital, I often see some elderly people suddenly exercising vigorously or being emotional because of the cold weather.It triggers an increase in blood pressure, which eventually leads to a heart attack or stroke.
I remember seeing a patient who went out for a workout one morning in the winter because of a sudden cold and didn't have enough clothes, which caused his blood pressure to rise dramatically.
As a result, when he was walking, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest, his body had no strength, and he almost fell.After first aid in the hospital, he was diagnosed with angina, but fortunately it was treated in time and did not cause more serious consequences.
The doctor told him that this condition is more common in the cold winter months, because the cold causes the blood vessels to constrict and the blood flow becomes more viscous, which increases the burden on the heart and predisposes to cardiovascular events.
Therefore, middle-aged and elderly people need to pay special attention to keeping warm in winter to avoid the impact of violent temperature fluctuations on blood pressure, especially in the morning and evening, when the temperature is low.Strenuous activities should be avoided and a warm indoor environment should be used for exercise as much as possible.
In winter, the most common health problem for many elderly people is joint pain, especially those with gout and rheumatoid arthritis, and cold weather often makes the symptoms worse.
This is because the cold causes the blood vessels to constrict.Local blood circulation slows down, and inflammation in the joints is more likely to worsen.This can lead to onset of pain, especially in the joints of the lower limbs, which can be exacerbated by cold weather irritation and may lead to immobility.
There was an elderly patient whose knee was so painful that he couldn't walk when winter came.He would go to the hospital for knee discomfort, and at first the doctor thought that he might be degenerative due to age.However, as the condition gradually worsened, he was eventually diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
The doctor told him that cold weather slows down the flow of blood in the joints,This triggers or worsens inflammation in the joints, leading to more intense pain.
Cold weather dries the air and reduces humidity, which can lead to respiratory infections, especially in middle-aged and elderly people, after all, their lung function is already inferior to that of young people.
In winter, the lung resistance decreases, and it is easy to be attacked by viruses or bacteria, causing respiratory diseases such as colds, coughs, and pneumonia, especially for patients with chronic diseases, such as chronic bronchitis, asthma, etc., and winter is often the peak period for disease recurrence.
I once met a middle-aged and elderly patient who always had a worsening cough and wheezing within a few days in winter.Every winter, his airways are severely affected.
Symptoms such as cold, fever, and phlegm continued to occur, and the examination found that he had chronic bronchitis.The cold air and dry environment aggravate the condition, leading to recurrent attacks.
Respiratory diseases in winter are closely related to the environment, so older people should try to avoid prolonged exposure to cold weather in winter.
When you go out, you may wish to wear a mask, which can reduce the direct irritation of cold air to the respiratory tract.At the same time, the indoor air should be kept moist and the effects of dryness can be mitigated by using a humidifier.
The function of the immune system in middle-aged and elderly people is gradually declining,This makes it difficult for their bodies to fight off viruses and bacteria from the outside world.
In the cold season, due to the large temperature difference and low humidity, the spread of viruses and bacteria accelerates, which means that for middle-aged and elderly people, they are more susceptible to colds, flu, and even the new coronavirus.
An elderly patient with diabetes tends to be particularly susceptible to illness during the winter months.Especially colds and flu, the weakness of the immune system makes him experience a "cold war" almost every year.
His doctor pointed out that the immune system will gradually decline with age, and the response ability of the immune system will be further weakened when the body temperature fluctuates due to cold weather in winter.
In order to improve immunity in winter, middle-aged and elderly people should maintain good living habits, such as washing hands regularly, avoiding crowded places, supplementing vitamins C and D in an appropriate amount, etc., if necessary, you can also appropriately supplement some immune-enhancing drugs or health care products under the guidance of a doctor.
The cold winter does bring a lot of health challenges to middle-aged and elderly people.However, with the right precautions, the chances of getting sick can be greatly reduced.
By protecting the stomach and intestines, enhancing the cold resistance of blood vessels, keeping joints warm, strengthening respiratory protection, and improving immunity, middle-aged and elderly people can spend a healthy winter.
Remember, winter is not an inevitable consequence of getting sick, do these details well,to minimize the health risks posed by cold weather.
The above content is for reference only, if you feel unwell, please consult a professional doctor in time
What do you think about the elderly getting sick? Welcome to discuss in the comment area!
[06] Zhang Ru, Research Progress on Promoting Physical Activity Based on Socioecological Theory, South China Normal University, 0-0
Disclaimer: The content of the article is for reference only, the storyline is purely fictional, intended to popularize health knowledge, if you feel unwell, please seek medical attention offline.