In spring, everything comes back to life, bringing endless joy to our lives. However, it also brings about many illnesses. In order to maintain good health and longevity, it is advised that the elderly remember to avoid the following five things in spring.
Avoid excessive sleep. In spring, people tend to feel sleepy, and some elderly people have the habit of oversleeping. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that prolonged bed rest damages the body's qi. Excessive sleep can lead to illness even when there is no underlying health issue. Prolonged bed rest can cause a decrease in metabolic capacity, nutritional disorders, poor blood circulation, stiff and uncomfortable muscles and tendons, and overall weakness. Therefore, it is recommended that the elderly go to bed and wake up early in spring, ensuring adequate sleep without sleeping excessively. Generally, eight hours of sleep per day is sufficient.
Avoid being inactive. Spring is a great time for the elderly to go out and engage in physical activities. Regular outdoor activities allow you to breathe fresh air, cleanse the body of impurities, and enhance cardiovascular and pulmonary function. It also provides an opportunity to comfortably bathe in the warm sunlight, which can kill bacteria and viruses on the skin and strengthen the body's immune system.
Avoid improper clothing. Spring weather is changeable, with sudden changes between cold and warm temperatures. Throughout the day, there can be variations in temperature between cool mornings and evenings, warm daytime, and cold nights. Therefore, the elderly should not remove their warm clothing too early and should "layer up" for a certain period of time to allow different parts of the body to adapt. This helps prevent catching a cold and reduces the risk of developing pneumonia, emphysema, and heart-lung diseases.
Avoid consuming raw and cold food. In spring, the elderly should pay attention to their diet and eat nutritious and easily digestible light food. They should avoid or minimize consumption of raw and cold food to prevent digestive problems. For those with a cold stomach, drinking ginger and sugar water in the morning and evening can help warm the stomach and prevent colds.
Avoid frequent visits to crowded places. Spring is a season where respiratory infectious diseases are more prevalent. Due to weaker immune systems, the elderly are more susceptible to infections. During disease outbreaks, the elderly should avoid frequent visits to crowded places such as shopping malls and theaters. Rinsing the mouth with saltwater daily, eating a few cloves of raw garlic, or using vinegar fumes indoors can all effectively prevent respiratory infections.
