In the golden autumn season, the cool breeze brings comfort, making it the most pleasant time of the year for people. However, as the autumn progresses, the sun's energy gradually decreases, and the body's physiological functions become calmer. The weather gradually turns cooler, making it a season prone to illness for the elderly. Therefore, in order to adapt to the characteristics of autumn climate and prevent diseases, the elderly should pay attention to health care in the autumn.
1. Adjust the diet. Due to the weakened function of the five internal organs and the weakened digestive system, the elderly can easily develop stomach problems if they have irregular and cold meals. Therefore, in autumn, the elderly should eat smaller meals more frequently and consume easily digestible foods that are cooked and appetizing. Additionally, due to the dry climate in autumn, it is easy to develop symptoms of dryness. Therefore, the food choices should focus on foods that are sweet, mild, moistening, and nourishing to the lungs. Examples include pears, lilies, Ophiopogon japonicus, water chestnuts, Chinese yam, pork lungs, lotus seeds, and lotus roots. It is also beneficial to add some nourishing traditional Chinese medicine to porridge or wine, such as wolfberries, Polygonatum sibiricum, Solomon's seal wine, and persimmon wine, which have a positive effect on strengthening the body and preventing diseases.
2. Nourish the spirit. The desolate scenery in autumn can easily lead to negative emotions such as pessimism and sadness in the elderly. Research has found that adverse psychological stimuli can suppress the body's immune defense function, leading to endocrine and metabolic disorders, and causing various diseases. Therefore, the elderly should pay special attention to mental health. They can engage in cultural and recreational activities such as playing musical instruments, chess, painting, gardening, and bird watching to delight the body and mind, cultivate sentiment, and enjoy their later years.
3. Pay attention to daily routines. "A cool autumn rain brings chilliness" - during autumn, there are large temperature differences, low temperatures, and the cold wind can easily harm people. Additionally, the elderly have reduced resistance and adaptability, making them more susceptible to colds, upper respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, heart and lung diseases, and even heart failure that can be life-threatening. Therefore, it is important to stay warm and protect against the cold. If possible, the elderly can wash their faces and wipe their noses with cold water, or even take cold baths to improve their resistance to cold and prevent colds.
4. Focus on prevention. The special climate characteristics of autumn make it prone to "dry cough", colds, exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, stomach problems, rheumatic diseases, asthma, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Therefore, the elderly should focus on prevention, taking into account their own physical condition, actively control primary diseases, and be vigilant against diseases that are prone to occur in autumn.
