Why do you get sick easily when it's cold?

The temperature fluctuates during the day, there is little sunlight, and the habit of closing doors to avoid cold air makes the body susceptible to respiratory diseases.

Prof. Dr. Ngo Quy Chau, Deputy General Director of Tam Anh General Hospital, President of the Vietnam Respiratory Association, said that in the last months of the year, the weather turns cold, making the body susceptible to respiratory diseases. In the same day, the weather and temperature change erratically, making it difficult for the body to adapt. This is also a favorable environment for viruses and bacteria to thrive. They easily penetrate the respiratory tract when breathing.

When the weather changes drastically, people often go out less, stay indoors more, and close the doors to avoid cold air from entering. Poor air circulation is a favorable factor for microorganisms to survive longer, making them more susceptible to disease.

In the cold season, the days are short and the nights are long, the number of hours of sunlight per day decreases, especially in the northern provinces. While sunlight has ultraviolet rays that are very important to kill harmful microorganisms.

Common respiratory diseases during the changing seasons include flu, rhinopharyngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia... People with chronic diseases such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are prone to acute and severe illness when suffering from these diseases.

Respiratory diseases in the cold season happen to everyone. However, the group of people who need priority attention and medical care are children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with many underlying diseases. This vulnerable group, even when treated, can still have complications such as pneumonia, lung abscess, respiratory failure, sepsis... At this time, the hospital stay is long, and the cost of treatment increases.

Winter temperatures change erratically, making it difficult for the body to adapt and making it easy to get sick. Photo: Freepik

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Chu Thi Hanh, Head of the Respiratory Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Hanoi , respiratory diseases have quite similar symptoms. For example, cough can occur in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, gastroesophageal reflux, due to common side effects of ACE inhibitors used to treat high blood pressure. Therefore, patients need to see a respiratory specialist for examination, screening and accurate diagnosis.

Tests, if necessary, will be prescribed by the doctor, including chest X-ray or CT scan, respiratory polygraphy, sleep polygraphy, respiratory function testing, exhaled NO (FeNO), electrocardiogram, blood tests...

Hoai Pham

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