In winter, we should not only prevent the new coronavirus, but also these diseases

Editor's note: Recently, local cases of COVID-19 have appeared in many places across the country, and prevention and control of the epidemic cannot be relaxed. However, while we are preventing and controlling COVID-19, these diseases cannot be ignored either.

1. Norovirus infection

Winter is the peak season for infections such as norovirus. Consuming contaminated food or water, not washing hands after touching contaminated objects or surfaces, caring for someone infected with the virus, sharing food or utensils with someone who is sick, etc. are the main causes of norovirus infection.

Health Tips

1. Develop good hygiene habits to prevent diseases from entering the body through the mouth. Use soap or hand sanitizer and wash your hands with running water. Do not wipe your hands with dirty towels. Wash your hands before meals, after defecation, and after touching dirty things. Avoid dirty hands from touching the mouth, eyes, and nose.

2. Pay attention to food hygiene, do not eat rotten or spoiled food, drink boiled water instead of raw water, do not eat raw, cold or unclean food, and keep raw and cooked food separate.

3. Clean up the patient's vomit and excrement promptly and disinfect the environment.

4. If you have symptoms similar to infectious diarrhea, you should go to the hospital for treatment in time.

5. Schools and childcare institutions should do a good job in students' personal health management, morning check-ups, and registration of absences due to illness. If children or students show symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea, the sick students should be required to return home for isolated treatment in a timely manner, and disinfection should be carried out in accordance with regulations. In the event of clustered outbreaks and sudden epidemics, they should report to the local CDC in a timely manner, and conduct epidemic investigation and disposal under the guidance of relevant professionals.

2. Influenza

Influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza virus. It usually has an acute onset, characterized by acute high fever, body pain, obvious fatigue and mild respiratory symptoms. Patients often have sudden fever, with a body temperature of 38℃ to 41℃, accompanied by chills, chills, headache, myalgia, body aches, general discomfort, dry eyes, eye pain, fatigue, decreased appetite, sore throat or persistent cough. Influenza virus is highly contagious, spreads quickly, and is easy to mutate. It is transmitted through the respiratory tract and contact. It is easy to be infected in places where people gather, such as public carriages, schools, childcare institutions and nursing homes.

Health Tips

1. Getting a flu shot is the most effective way to prevent the flu.

2. Develop good personal hygiene and living habits to enhance physical fitness and immunity; wash hands before meals, after defecation, and after touching dirty objects, and change, wash, and dry clothes and bedding frequently; wash hands immediately after contact with respiratory secretions (such as after sneezing or blowing your nose) to avoid dirty hands touching the mouth, eyes, and nose.

3. When wearing a disposable medical mask, unfold the folded surface completely to completely cover the mouth, nose, and jaw, and then tighten the nose clip to make the mask fit perfectly to the face.

4. Open windows several times a day to keep the indoor air fresh. During the peak of the epidemic, you should avoid going to crowded places. If you have related symptoms, you should seek medical attention in time, reduce contact with others, and rest at home as much as possible.

5. Schools and childcare institutions should focus on preventing small-scale influenza outbreaks, strengthen environmental sanitation in the kindergarten and ventilation and disinfection of classrooms, and implement various prevention and control measures such as morning and afternoon inspections and epidemic reporting.

3. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases

The arrival of cold air makes the situation worse for patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The most common emergency cases in winter are myocardial infarction and stroke. In particular, the incidence of stroke is clearly related to the season.

Health Tips

1. People with underlying cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases should keep warm, wear scarves and hats when going out, and protect their heart and brain.

2. Drink more water to reduce blood viscosity.

3. Eat more foods rich in fiber to keep bowel movements smooth; high-protein, high-vitamin, low-fat foods help protect the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems.

4. Keep the room temperature at around 18℃ to avoid large temperature differences between indoors and outdoors. Exercise moderately after sunrise or in the afternoon.

5. Keep a calm mind and avoid getting emotional.

6. People with underlying diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and arteriosclerosis need to take medication on time in winter. They should not reduce the dosage or stop taking the medication suddenly. They should carry nitroglycerin, quick-acting heart-saving pills, etc. when going out.

4. Respiratory diseases

Chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and COPD, are prone to relapse in winter. The patient's respiratory mucosa is stimulated by cold air, and the airway reactivity increases, which can induce relapse; their lungs are more prone to inflammation than ordinary people. Colds and coughs that are not relieved in time may also trigger asthma.

Health Tips

1. Patients with chronic respiratory diseases should keep their mouths and noses warm and wear masks when going out. Wash your nose frequently and gargle with light salt water when you get home.

2. Quit smoking and avoid passive smoking.

3. Properly ventilate the room, maintain air circulation, and avoid the invasion of kitchen fumes.

4. Eat a light, easily digestible diet, supplement with high-quality protein, and take more dairy products, eggs, soy products, and fruits and vegetables such as carrots, pears, and oranges. Do not eat shrimp, crabs, seafood, and other foods that can induce asthma, and eat less spicy and greasy foods.

5. Adhere to treatment and do not reduce or stop medication without authorization. You can cooperate with respiratory muscle exercises, with an emphasis on abdominal breathing training. COPD patients can do oxygen therapy once a day to relieve the burden on the heart. (Source: Shaanxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention WeChat Official Account, Changsha Evening News, Health News, Life Times)