How can elderly friends stay away from influenza?

This is the 4755th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

1. What is influenza?

Influenza is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza virus. There are four brothers of influenza virus, the oldest is influenza A, the second is influenza B, the third is influenza C, and the fourth is influenza D. The four brothers have many descendants. When people are in close contact, droplets produced by breathing, talking, coughing, and sneezing are directly inhaled into the respiratory tract; or hands touch the eyes, oral and nasal mucosa to enter the human body indirectly, invading the immune system, producing an inflammatory response, and a series of symptoms such as sore throat, coughing, chills, high fever, fatigue, muscle aches, etc. When the virus is rampant, it can devour the entire lung, causing severe pneumonia, also known as white lung disease (as shown below).

2. What is the difference between influenza and the common cold?

Common cold: caused by common rhinovirus and coronavirus, not easily spread, clinical manifestations are mostly runny nose, sore throat, cough, sputum, etc., symptoms are mild, short course, few complications, common cold medicine is effective, recovery is fast. It is often caused by rain, cold air conditioning, cold, etc.

Influenza: It is caused by the four brothers of influenza virus. The seasonal epidemic of influenza is mainly caused by the eldest and the second brothers. From the perspective of infectiousness, influenza A is the strongest and is easy to cause widespread transmission; influenza B is relatively weak and usually only spreads in a certain area. It mainly occurs in winter and spring, which is easy to cause collective outbreaks. The clinical manifestations are multiple and severe, which seriously endangers humans. The main symptoms may be sudden chills, headaches, coughs, general fatigue, persistent high fever, and muscle aches without any inducement. Recovery is slow, and medical treatment must be sought in time. Follow the doctor's advice for symptomatic supportive treatment such as antipyretic analgesia, antiviral (oseltamivir, peramivir, etc.), cough and expectorant. Remember, the symptoms of the elderly are often atypical!!!

3. Why should the elderly pay attention to influenza?

Let me tell you a real case. Since the beginning of winter, influenza has been prevalent. Mr. Zhang, 86 years old, has a history of hypertension and diabetes, and his condition is usually stable. A week ago, Mr. Zhang felt that he couldn't eat and was not in a good mood, but he didn't take it seriously. A few days later, he developed a cough and fever. He took some cold medicine by himself, but didn't get better, so he told his children. His daughter took him to the hospital for treatment. After taking the medicine, the fever subsided, and he felt better, so he continued to take the medicine without following the doctor's advice. Two days ago, Mr. Zhang's condition suddenly worsened, and he went to the hospital for an X-ray examination, which showed severe pneumonia, which is what doctors call white lung. After rescue failed, he unfortunately passed away.

This case tells us that the elderly have low immunity and are more susceptible to influenza. After being infected, the symptoms are atypical, often asymptomatic in the early stage or only manifested as decreased appetite, mental depression, fatigue, etc. If they do not pay attention to it, delayed diagnosis and treatment, pneumonia may occur, and even develop into severe pneumonia, inducing chronic diseases such as heart disease and chronic bronchitis, thus endangering the lives of the elderly.

4. How can the elderly stay away from influenza?

1. Get a flu shot

Influenza vaccination is considered to be the most effective measure to prevent the occurrence and spread of influenza, and plays an important role in reducing the incidence of influenza and reducing complications.

Elderly people over 65 years old and those with underlying diseases such as cancer, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema, diabetes, kidney disease, etc. can effectively prevent the occurrence of influenza by going to the local community health service center to get the influenza vaccine before the arrival of winter every year.

2. Improve immunity

Eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C, lean meat, fish, shrimp, eggs, milk, soy products rich in high-quality protein, etc., to improve the body's immunity and disease resistance.

Exercise moderately and choose slow-paced aerobic exercises, such as: jogging, square dancing, Tai Chi, radio gymnastics, Ba Duan Jin, walking, cycling, swimming, yoga, etc.

Keep a happy mood, get enough sleep, combine work and rest, and avoid excessive fatigue.

3. Keep warm

Add or remove clothes at any time according to the season and temperature changes, pay attention to keeping warm, and never be reluctant to turn on the air conditioner or heater to save electricity, otherwise you will catch a cold and lose the big picture. In cold weather, reduce going out and avoid exercising in the morning and evening when the temperature is lower.

4. Personal protection

Pay attention to hygiene, wash your hands before meals, after going to the toilet, and after going out. Cover your mouth and nose with your upper arm or a tissue or towel when you cough or sneeze, and avoid rubbing your eyes or touching your mouth and nose with your hands. When going out during the flu season, you should take personal protection measures and wear a mask at all times.

5. Reduce gatherings

Winter and spring are the peak seasons for influenza. During the Spring Festival, reduce going out, visiting relatives and friends, and avoid crowded public places such as shopping malls and subways. Avoid contact with influenza patients. If family members have influenza, try to avoid contact with each other to prevent cross infection.

6. Open windows for ventilation

Windows should be opened for ventilation twice a day for more than 30 minutes each time to keep the indoor air fresh and circulating. Towels, clothes, bed sheets and other items should be washed and dried regularly to reduce indoor bacteria, viruses and other pathogenic microorganisms.

7. Seek medical attention promptly

During the flu season, if you experience flu symptoms such as loss of appetite, mental depression, fatigue, headache, fever, muscle aches, etc., do not take medicine on your own and inform your children to go to the hospital for medical treatment in time. Do not delay treatment, as it may trigger underlying diseases and cause serious consequences.

8. Prevention with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Foot soaking with Chinese medicine : Soak your feet in water boiled with ginger, mugwort, patchouli, etc. for 30 minutes every night. It can warm the meridians and dispel cold, dredge the meridians, enhance the body's resistance, and achieve the purpose of disease prevention.

Wearing sachets : Use mugwort, mint, patchouli, angelica dahurica, sandalwood and other medicines to make sachets and wear them with you.

Moxa stick fumigation : Burn moxa sticks indoors every week, close the doors and windows, and fumigate the room for 30-60 minutes before opening the doors and windows for ventilation. This can kill and inhibit influenza viruses.

References:

[1] Cheng Ying, Li Juan, Peng Zhibin, et al. Analysis of the prevention and control situation and countermeasures for some infectious diseases among the elderly aged 60 and above in my country [J]. Chinese Journal of Epidemiology, 2021, 42(1): 28-32.

[2] Chen Renwei, Ge Hanjie, Rong Yangyang, et al. Analysis of influenza vaccination willingness and influencing factors among elderly patients with chronic diseases in Hangzhou[J]. Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2022, 23(9): 688-692.

Author: Zhoupu Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Health and Medical College

Shi Haihong