How to maintain the stomach in autumn and winter

Stomach problems occur in autumn and winter, and need to be treated through diet adjustment, lifestyle intervention, oral medication, etc. Are you also troubled by this problem? Today, the medical community specially invited gastroenterology expert Wang Hailong to explain issues related to gastrointestinal diseases.

"The gastrointestinal tract is very sensitive to cold stimulation. If you do not pay attention to your diet and lifestyle, it will cause gastrointestinal discomfort." said Wang Hailong, a gastroenterologist.

Why are gastrointestinal diseases more common in autumn and winter? How to prevent gastrointestinal diseases and protect gastrointestinal health in autumn and winter?

Multiple factors lead to high incidence of gastrointestinal diseases

Wang Hailong said that many people suffer from gastrointestinal diseases in autumn because of their greed for coolness. In addition to the fact that greed for coolness can easily cause gastrointestinal diseases, there are many other reasons that can cause gastrointestinal diseases, such as duodenal ulcers, chronic gastritis, reflux esophagitis, functional dyspepsia and other diseases.

He pointed out that in autumn, the temperature drops, the air is dry, and the temperature difference between morning and evening is large, sometimes up to 15 degrees Celsius in a day. Such a temperature difference is suitable for the reproduction of bacteria and viruses, and easily leads to food spoilage. Therefore, autumn has become a high-incidence season for intestinal diseases such as food poisoning, bacterial dysentery, Escherichia coli enteritis, and refrigerator enteritis (Yersinia enteritis).

As the weather gets cooler, people's appetite increases, and there is a saying among the people that "put on weight in autumn". However, a strong appetite can easily increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract, leading to gastrointestinal dysfunction and indigestion. If it is not restrained, digestive system diseases are likely to occur.

People who are under stressful working conditions for a long time are prone to gastrointestinal dysfunction and chronic gastrointestinal diseases due to excessive mental pressure and irregular diet and rest.

"Working or exercising right after a meal, drinking too much alcohol, eating too much spicy food, and frequently eating difficult-to-digest food are also important causes of gastrointestinal diseases," said Wang Hailong.

Prevention is crucial

How to prevent gastrointestinal diseases in autumn and winter? Wang Hailong said that we need to pay attention to the diet structure, exercise appropriately, enhance resistance and prevent cold invasion.

People with chronic gastroenteritis should pay special attention to keeping their abdomen warm to prevent colds from causing stomach pain or aggravating old diseases. In addition, they should pay attention to keeping their lower limbs and feet warm to prevent colds from developing in the feet, which can cause qi and blood disorders.

Strengthening physical exercise is beneficial to improving the gastrointestinal tract. Physical exercise can accelerate blood circulation, enhance human fitness and ability to adapt to drastic climate changes, reduce the chance of disease, and prevent disease before it occurs.

Patients with gastric disease should eat warm, soft, light, vegetarian and fresh food. They should eat small meals frequently and regularly so that there is always food in the stomach to neutralize gastric acid and prevent erosion of gastric mucosa and ulcer surface, which will aggravate the condition. At the same time, they should not eat too cold, too hot, too hard or too spicy food, and must quit smoking and drinking.

The occurrence and development of diseases such as gastric disease and duodenal ulcer are closely related to people's emotions and mentality. Therefore, we should maintain a happy spirit and stable emotions, and avoid negative emotions such as anxiety, fear, tension, and sadness.

Clinical practice has shown that the stimulation of some Chinese and Western medicines can expand the ulcer surface and aggravate the condition. Therefore, when you feel stomach discomfort, you should go to a regular hospital for treatment and use the medicine correctly under the guidance of a doctor.

Wang Hailong pointed out that fasting is not recommended for patients with diarrhea to prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. They can eat some light liquid food to supplement nutrition before proceeding to the next step of treatment. Patients with severe diarrhea should pay attention to fluid replacement.

He reminded patients that if they must take medications that irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa, they can choose to take them after meals; if symptoms of recurrence of gastrointestinal diseases occur, they should pay attention and go to the hospital for treatment in time.

Maintain a healthy gastrointestinal state

Many people choose to travel in the cool and refreshing autumn. "During the journey, the change of life rhythm, dietary environment and fatigue can easily lead to gastrointestinal discomfort or even acute gastroenteritis," said Wang Hailong.

When traveling, due to changes in environmental and sanitary conditions, the gastrointestinal tract's ability to adapt to raw, cold, hard, and irritating foods decreases, which can easily lead to indigestion. Therefore, when traveling, you should try to avoid eating raw food such as sashimi and oysters, overly spicy food, cold drinks, etc. At the same time, try to choose well-cooked food with a moderate taste.

During the long holidays, friends and family gather together and eat a lot. However, this often leads to indigestion, bloating and other troubles, which not only affect the mood but also bring long-term burden to the body.

Wang Hailong pointed out that overeating not only increases the burden on the stomach and intestines, but may also lead to acute gastroenteritis. Therefore, while enjoying delicious food, we should pay attention to controlling the amount of food we eat, follow the principle of "moderate, balanced, and diverse", and avoid overeating.

Maintain a regular diet, set a fixed time for three meals a day, and eat until you are 70% to 80% full at each meal. Avoid binge eating caused by hunger, give the digestive system enough time to rest and recover, and prevent food accumulation.

Reduce the consumption of greasy food. High-fat foods such as barbecue are not easily absorbed by the human body and will increase the workload of the liver, leading to abdominal pain and diarrhea, and increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. You can choose to steam or boil the food, which can not only preserve the original flavor of the ingredients, but also help control the intake of fat.

Wang Hailong reminded that taking a walk after a meal can promote gastrointestinal motility, help food digestion and absorption faster, and prevent fat accumulation. Walking for more than half an hour every day can improve metabolism, reduce blood lipid concentration, and improve sleep quality.

In cold weather, you should not eat raw, cold and cool food for excitement, so as not to stimulate the gastric mucosa, causing congestion of the gastric mucosa, leading to diarrhea, abdominal pain, intestinal cramps and other problems. Eat some hot food appropriately, such as beef, mutton, longan, jujube, pepper and pepper, etc. And pay attention to keep warm to avoid the invasion of cold air.