The first cold wave warning in the Year of the Snake! Please take this "cold protection and health care" gift pack!

The Central Meteorological Observatory issued a blue warning for cold waves at 10:00 on February 5! A new strong cold front will affect my country. It is expected that from February 5 to 7, under the combined influence of the southern branch fluctuation and the cold front, Hunan will be mainly cloudy and rainy, and western Hunan will have sleet or freezing rain; the temperature will drop significantly, with the maximum temperature dropping by more than 8°C.

The health risks brought by low temperatures, cold waves, rain and snow include slippery roads, snow accumulation and icy roads, which increase the risk of falls and fractures; when exposed to low temperature and humidity for a long time, frostbite is prone to occur on exposed parts of the limbs; if exposed to extremely cold environments for a long time, it is easy to cause symptoms of hypothermia such as chills, slow breathing and heartbeat; coldness can cause blood vessel constriction, aggravate the symptoms of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and bring the risk of inducing worsening of existing underlying diseases; when the temperature drops suddenly, the respiratory mucosa is easily irritated, which weakens the defense function and respiratory diseases "come at the first sign of trouble."

How to protect your health? Experts from Hunan Chest Hospital have sent citizens a "cold prevention and health care" gift package to help you get through the cold in good health.

1. Travel safely and avoid falls and fractures

Zhou Jialin, deputy chief physician of the Department of Orthopedics at Hunan Chest Hospital , said: In winter, if you fall accidentally due to rain or snow, the bone condition of middle-aged and elderly people is relatively poor, and they often suffer from osteoporosis, which makes them prone to fractures after falling. If the elderly fall backwards and their sacrum and coccyx touch the ground, they are prone to hip fractures and spinal compression fractures.

If the fall is forward, people have more time to react, such as using their hands or elbows to support themselves. Although upper limb injuries may occur, for the elderly, upper limb injuries (such as wrist, elbow, shoulder fractures or soft tissue injuries) are less harmful than hip fractures and spinal fractures.

Therefore, on rainy and snowy days, the elderly should first try to reduce going out. They should plan their travel arrangements according to weather forecasts and warnings. If they must go out, they should add more clothes, use rain gear, scarves, hats, gloves and other protective equipment, and shorten the time of outdoor activities and reduce the intensity of activities as much as possible.

If you have to go out, you need to wear non-slip shoes with high friction soles. This will help reduce falls caused by slippery roads. It is recommended that you lower your body and lower your center of gravity when walking, and walk like a penguin, with your feet turned outward and small steps, to reduce the risk of falling caused by rapid changes in the center of gravity.

2. Hypothermia is very dangerous and can lead to death

Zhao Ziping, deputy chief physician of the Department of Critical Care Medicine , said that hypothermia in medicine refers to a condition in which a person is exposed to cold for a long time, and the body loses too much heat, and the body temperature gradually drops, and the physiological functions weaken. In severe cases, it can even lead to death. Long-term exposure to low temperatures, strong winds, lack of oxygen, and lack of proper warming measures can easily lead to hypothermia.

If you find a hypothermic person outdoors and cannot get medical treatment immediately, first, get him/her into a warm room or residence; take off wet clothes promptly; take measures to warm the core areas of the body - chest, neck, head and groin; take hot drinks to help raise body temperature. Be careful not to take alcoholic drinks, and do not give hot drinks to people who are unconscious.

Death from hypothermia after being drunk in winter is one of the common causes of death from hypothermia, because being drunk can cause the human body to misjudge changes in the external environment temperature, and drinking can easily lead to peripheral vasodilation, making it more difficult to retain heat in the body. It is still the end of the year, and it is inevitable to drink to cheer up during reunions, but avoid excessive drinking, which is harmful to your health.

3. When the cold wave hits, patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases must be vigilant

"As the temperature drops, this season is the peak season for cardiovascular diseases, and it is particularly important to strengthen the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases." Liu Weiwei, deputy chief physician of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine , said that because the body is in a low temperature state, the human body's peripheral blood vessels will contract, causing an increase in vascular resistance and blood pressure, increasing the heart load and increasing the chance of cardiovascular disease attacks.

Due to the cold, the body needs to consume energy to generate heat, and at the same time it also involuntarily consumes too much high-calorie food, which increases blood viscosity, increases the burden on the heart, and increases the chance of acute myocardial infarction.

Paying attention to keeping warm is especially important for patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Reasonable warming measures can prevent strong stimulation of the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular vessels. While adding clothes, the living environment should also be warm to avoid a significant drop in indoor temperature. Outdoor activities and opening windows for ventilation should not be too long.

Maintain a regular work and rest schedule. Insufficient sleep and excessive fatigue can also induce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Especially for people with underlying diseases, adequate rest and sleep should be ensured. Avoid getting up too quickly and take medication as prescribed by your doctor. If you feel unwell or your blood pressure or blood sugar fluctuates, you must seek medical attention in a timely manner and do not avoid seeing a doctor.

4. The peak season for respiratory diseases is here

Yao Bibo, director of the respiratory department and chief physician , said that winter and spring are the peak seasons for acute respiratory infectious diseases. Recent monitoring data show that pathogens that cause acute respiratory infections include Mycoplasma pneumoniae, rhinovirus, common coronavirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, influenza virus, new coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and human metapneumovirus.

When the temperature drops suddenly, the respiratory mucosa is easily irritated, resulting in a decrease in defense function. Therefore, everyone should strengthen personal protection and develop good personal hygiene habits. Frequent hand washing is the key to preventing infection, especially before preparing food or eating, after going to the toilet, after coughing, blowing your nose or sneezing, after caring for patients, after contact with animals, and after handling garbage. Hands should be washed thoroughly with running water.

It is recommended to wear a mask when going out and try to avoid crowded places. If you have symptoms of infection, it is recommended not to go to work or school to avoid infecting others; if you live with people, you should wear a mask at home until you are fully recovered. In addition, it is recommended to get timely vaccinations for influenza, pneumonia and other related vaccines.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Chen Yanan, Hunan Chest Hospital

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(Edited by Wx)