5 rules to improve the health of the elderly in cold rain

SKĐS - Unpredictable weather, rain and cold air not only cause inconvenience to daily life but also create favorable conditions for infectious diseases to break out.

The current humid and cold weather is an ideal condition for microorganisms to grow, especially viruses that cause respiratory diseases such as influenza A, COVID-19, dengue fever virus... Actual records from the Department of Tropical Diseases (Friendship Hospital) show that in just the past month, the Department has received and treated many elderly patients with influenza A and dengue fever.

Elderly people are susceptible to colds and bacterial infections.

For the elderly, the changing of seasons is a time when they are at risk of many health problems. The immune system of the elderly itself declines with age, a medical concept called senile immunodeficiency. This weakens the body's natural defenses, making it more susceptible to viruses than younger people.

In addition, when the weather suddenly turns cold, the elderly, whose bodies have poor thermoregulation, are susceptible to cold. Cold causes peripheral blood vessels to constrict, reducing blood flow to the respiratory tract mucosa, creating an opportunity for viruses to invade and develop.

However, the biggest danger is not just viral infection. What doctors are most concerned about is bacterial superinfection. When the body is trying to fight off viruses (such as influenza A), the immune system will be overloaded. At this time, opportunistic bacteria (usually residing in the throat and nose) will take the opportunity to attack, causing more serious diseases such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

An elderly patient with influenza A is being treated at Friendship Hospital.

This is the reason why many elderly people initially only have mild flu symptoms but then quickly become more severe, requiring hospitalization and intensive treatment with combined regimens: antiviral drugs, strong antibiotics to prevent secondary infections, anti-inflammatory drugs, and especially rehydration and electrolytes to stabilize their physical condition.

5 rules to improve the health of the elderly when the weather changes

In the face of complicated epidemics, proactive disease prevention for the elderly is a top priority. To take care of the elderly's health and minimize the risk of hospitalization during the changing seasons, experts recommend that people prioritize implementing the following 5 core measures:

1. Keep your body warm

When the weather turns cold, avoiding catching a cold is the most important thing. The elderly need to pay special attention to keeping important parts such as the neck, chest, back and feet warm. When going out, especially in the rain or early morning, it is necessary to prepare a warm coat, woolen hat and scarf. The bedroom must be windproof and warm enough, and can use a heating lamp or two-way air conditioning if necessary.

2. Balanced nutrition and drink enough warm water

A nutritious diet provides the body with enough energy to maintain the immune system. The elderly should eat hot, easily digestible foods, increase green vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C (such as oranges, tangerines, grapefruits) to improve resistance.

The elderly need to maintain reasonable exercise when the weather changes seasons.

Especially in the cold season, the elderly often hesitate to drink water. This is a mistake, because the body still loses water through breathing. Not drinking enough water makes phlegm thicker, blood thicker, and the kidneys work harder. It is necessary to maintain adequate water intake, prioritizing warm water or hot herbal teas.

3. Elderly people need to maintain reasonable exercise.

Regular exercise helps improve blood circulation and improve overall health. However, the elderly need to exercise intelligently. Many elderly people have the habit of exercising early in the morning (4-5 am). This is extremely dangerous in the cold season.

At this time, the outdoor temperature drops very low, the cold air and a lot of humidity can cause sudden vasoconstriction, increasing the risk of stroke or myocardial infarction. The advice is to postpone the exercise time to later, after 7 am when the weather is warmer, or choose light exercises indoors, in places with no wind. Always warm up thoroughly to warm up the body before starting the main exercise.

4. Wear a mask and keep your distance

Cold and rainy weather makes people tend to gather indoors, in sheltered places. This is an ideal environment for viruses to spread through the respiratory tract. Therefore, wearing a mask when going out or going to crowded places is the most effective shield to protect yourself from flu and COVID-19.

5. Personal hygiene, especially hand washing

Viruses can survive on surfaces and are transmitted through contact with the eyes, nose, and mouth. Washing your hands frequently with soap or hand sanitizer is a simple action that can cut off the transmission of the disease.

The elderly should take note that when the body has any unusual signs such as high fever that does not go down, fatigue, difficulty breathing, they need to go to a medical facility immediately for examination and timely treatment, to avoid the disease progressing and causing dangerous complications.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/5-quy-tac-tang-cuong-suc-khoe-nguoi-cao-tuoi-khi-mua-lanh-169251112124034576.htm