In winter, the weather is cold, and the elderly need to pay attention to various aspects, not only to have a proper diet but also to pay attention to daily life. Here are some tips for winter health for the elderly!
What the elderly should do for winter health
1. Moderation in diet
In winter, the elderly can eat more meat and high-calorie foods to supplement energy, but in moderation;
If they overeat fatty foods, it will produce phlegm and dampness, which is harmful to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
In winter, it is advisable to choose bitter foods such as bitter gourd and ginkgo, and eat less salty foods. This is beneficial for health maintenance and prevention.
2. Regular daily routine
After the arrival of winter, the days become shorter and nights become longer. The elderly need to adapt to the changes and dress appropriately and adjust their daily routines.
In winter, the elderly should have sufficient and regular sleep. It is recommended to "go to bed early and get up late". Generally, 7 to 9 hours of sleep is appropriate for the elderly in winter.
3. Exercise appropriately
Although the elderly have less outdoor activities in winter, they still need to exercise regularly.
Morning exercises in winter should not be too early, and should be done after the sun comes out. Exercise should be moderate. "The way of health preservation often requires a little effort but not excessive fatigue." It is important to persevere.
4. Emotional well-being
Maintain a calm state of mind and control emotions. Especially for elderly people with high blood pressure, it is important to regulate emotions.
5. Avoid external pathogens
External pathogens refer to factors that may cause diseases from the external environment.
The vitality of the elderly is relatively weak. With the aging of the organs and tissues, their functions gradually decline. If they are exposed to external pathogens, the disease will become more severe.
Prevention of diseases for the elderly in winter
1. Cough
Winter is dry, and elderly people who love spicy food are prone to cough in winter.
According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine that different tastes affect different organs, spicy food can damage the lungs and cause dry cough. Moreover, severe coughing can easily harm the liver.
2. Cold
Colds are common and prevalent in autumn and winter for the elderly. Although a cold is not a serious illness, if not treated promptly, it can easily lead to various life-threatening complications, such as pneumonia, cardiopulmonary disease, asthma, and chronic bronchitis.
3. Itching
Experts say that the skin of the elderly undergoes degenerative atrophy, and the function of sebaceous glands decreases. In cold and dry weather, it is prone to skin itching. This condition often worsens at night, making it difficult to fall asleep.
4. Diarrhea
In winter, the temperature is still relatively high, and food is prone to spoilage. Eating leftover food and cold dishes can easily cause diarrhea.
Cilantro has bactericidal properties, so adding some when eating cold dishes can be helpful.
5. Myocardial infarction
Winter is also the peak season for myocardial infarction. This is because after being stimulated by cold, blood vessels contract, fibrinogen in the blood increases;
blood viscosity increases, making it easy to form blood clots, which can lead to myocardial ischemia and hypoxia, triggering angina, and in severe cases, myocardial infarction.
