Attention all travelers! Be sure to share this health tip with your family

The Spring Festival holiday is over, and the children's winter vacation is also coming to an end. Many people have to say goodbye to their hometowns and go far away. It is another year of migration from south to north. The climate in the north and south is very different, and the older people have poor adaptability. Do you want to get rid of the discomfort associated with "migration"?

There is a way!

Keep warm first

How do "migrants" dress to keep warm in the north and south? If you are traveling from the north to the south, you should not wear too much, otherwise you will sweat easily and catch a cold easily after being blown by the wind. It is recommended to prepare coats and accessories that are easy to put on and take off, and take off clothes in time after arriving at the warm destination in the south.

If you are traveling from the south to the north, you should dress lightly but warmly. You can bring a thicker down jacket with you, which will come in handy if the climate at your destination is colder than you expected. Secondly, remember to wear a scarf, hat, wool gloves, cotton socks and warm boots. In short, pay attention to the weather forecast before departure and add or remove clothes in time.

Every winter, the northern part of my country starts heating, while people in the southern part of China jokingly say that they can only "stomp their feet to keep warm." Although heating is a necessary warming facility for homes in the north, the doors and windows are closed, the indoor air circulation is poor, and the room temperature is high and dry, which is conducive to the spread of bacteria and can easily make people irritable, dry nasopharynx, dizzy, weak, etc. These symptoms are called "heating disease."

To prevent heating disease, controlling temperature and humidity is the key. Usually, the room temperature is 18℃～24℃ and the humidity is 50%～60%, which makes the human body feel most comfortable. Remember to open the windows for ventilation more often, preferably once in the morning and once in the evening, and each ventilation time should be no less than half an hour. You can also use a humidifier or place a basin of water in front of the bed. In addition, you should insist on outdoor exercise appropriately, and pay special attention to keeping warm when you go outdoors.

Cold and damp

Compared with the north, the winter temperature in the south is not that low, but the damp and cold are equally unbearable. Air conditioners, electric blankets, hot water bottles and heat packs can all come in handy. But sometimes, after using these heating artifacts, blisters will "inexplicably" grow on the body. This is actually a low-temperature burn! Here we remind everyone that elderly people with diabetes, vasculitis, sequelae of stroke and long-term bedridden people should not come into contact with objects that are hotter than body temperature for a long time. If you use an electric blanket, do not set the temperature too high; when using a hot water bottle for heating, wrap the hot water bottle with a towel first.

In southern regions such as Sanya, Hainan, Beihai, Guangxi, and Zhuhai, Guangdong, the winter climate is humid and warm, which is suitable for some people with stable chronic diseases, such as the elderly with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, chronic bronchitis, asthma and other diseases. Of course, although the south is good, it is not suitable for everyone. According to reports, the humidity in some southern cities is more than 60%. Elderly people who spend the winter in the south will have to face the challenge of humidity, which may induce rheumatism.

The problem of heavy moisture can also be solved from two aspects. From the internal point of view, the elderly can sweat by soaking their feet, exercising, etc. to accelerate the excretion of moisture from the body, or they can use porridge, tea, soup and other dietary therapy methods to assist. From the external point of view, it is best to always have a hygrometer at home to monitor the indoor humidity at any time. You can also use a dehumidifier, air conditioner, etc. to dehumidify. Remind the elderly with gout and rheumatism that tropical and subtropical areas are humid and not suitable for long-term residence.

Dietary advice

There are obvious differences in eating habits between the north and the south.

Let's talk about "drinking" first. In the north, it's colder, so people drink mostly black tea and scented tea. A cup of hot tea can drive away the cold and promote digestion. People in the south prefer green tea, which has a fresh fragrance but is slightly cold in nature.

Let's talk about "food". The southerners have light tastes, the northerners have heavy tastes, "sweet in the south and salty in the north". In terms of staple food, the southerners eat more rice, while the northerners eat more noodles. The southerners choose different ingredients, and the fat content and salt intake are different. Southerners are more particular about delicate and light tastes; northerners like to eat heavy flavors such as big stews. Then, under such differences between the north and the south, people with weak spleen and stomach functions may experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation.

Next are the specific suggestions: The weather in the north is cold, so you can eat spicy food, beef and mutton to keep warm. Patients with underlying diseases such as hypertension and coronary heart disease should avoid consuming too much salt in the north, which will cause water and sodium retention and aggravate hypertension and heart disease. The taste in the south is sweeter, and there are more high-sugar fruits in tropical areas. Patients with diabetes should avoid consuming too much sugar. In addition, if you go to an area rich in seafood, "seafood + beer" is indispensable for welcoming and seeing off, so be careful of gout.

In short, although we should adapt to local customs, we should also scientifically adjust our diet structure to achieve nutritional balance. According to personal conditions, we should consume meat, eggs, and milk every day. Try not to drink coffee, strong tea and other refreshing drinks. We can exercise appropriately, keep a calm mind, and ensure sleep.

Pay extra attention

01

Elderly and children

The dry climate in the north in winter, with occasional haze, may lead to the recurrence and aggravation of chronic respiratory diseases. When the human body is in a low temperature environment, peripheral blood vessels will contract, leading to increased blood pressure, and the incidence of coronary heart disease, angina pectoris and myocardial infarction will increase accordingly. The cold will also cause poor blood circulation in bones and joints, leading to aggravation of symptoms of bone and joint diseases such as joint pain and synovitis. Therefore, please pay special attention to the main force in the north-south migration - the elderly and children, prepare common medicines, and pay attention to your daily routine.

02

Broken bones and snow blindness

It has snowed heavily in southern my country recently, and the Winter Olympics has also made ice and snow sports popular. Skiing, sledding, making snowmen, and snowball fights are all popular winter tourism activities. However, the slippery ground on snowy days makes it easy to fall, especially for the elderly, who are prone to fractures once they fall. In addition, the ultraviolet rays in the sun are reflected by the snow to the human cornea, which can easily cause snow blindness. It is recommended that you change into flat shoes with rough soles and stripes when going out, take as small a stride as possible, slow down and maintain a fixed pace, and pay attention to your body balance; do not stay in the snow for too long, and it is best to wear protective equipment such as sunglasses and masks.

03

Beware of frostbite

Although frostbite is a minor problem, it can cause a lot of trouble. To prevent frostbite, you must first promote blood circulation. Rubbing your hands and stamping your feet can promote capillary dilation and accelerate peripheral microvascular circulation. People who work in the cold and come into contact with cold water should move frequently and avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time. Second, soak your hands and feet in warm water. When you return from the outdoors, do not immediately warm yourself by the fire. You should first move your hands and feet slowly and then warm yourself. Third, keep your hands and feet clean. Bacteria are also an important cause of frostbite. Fourth, keep warm and dry. This is especially true for people with sweaty hands and feet. Fifth, strengthen exercise to improve your body's resistance to cold.

Author: Guan Pin, Deputy Director of the Fourth Medical Care Ward of Hainan Provincial People's Hospital

Review | Experts from the National Health Science Expert Database

Liu Youshuo, Director of the Department of Geriatrics, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University

Planning｜Tan Jiayu Yunxi

Editor: Yu Yunxi