Winter health is beneficial for the body, especially for the elderly. Winter weather is cold and dry, making it a season prone to illness. Therefore, the elderly should be given more care to ensure a safe winter. The following are some taboos that the elderly should pay attention to in their winter health:
1. Avoid going out too early
In the winter morning, the outdoor temperature is the lowest. Going out too early can easily cause colds and cardiovascular diseases. The elderly should choose to go outdoors after 10 am.
2. Avoid prolonged sun exposure
Prolonged sun exposure can damage the skin, destroy the body's natural barrier, and allow harmful chemicals and microorganisms in the air to invade the body, causing infections and even vision loss.
3. Avoid prolonged bathing
Winter air is dry and cold, and daily bathing can make the skin even drier. In fact, it is best for the elderly to bathe every 5-6 days in winter.
4. Avoid excessive physical activity
Moderate exercise is an important means to strengthen the body, prevent diseases, and fight against aging. However, the elderly should not engage in vigorous exercise and should choose suitable activities such as jogging, cycling, and practicing Tai Chi.
5. Avoid excessive heating
In the cold winter, the elderly tend to feel cold and prefer to use hot water bottles to keep warm. However, this can cause skin redness or burns. Therefore, maintaining a room temperature of 18-25 degrees Celsius is sufficient.
6. Avoid sleeping with the head covered
Sleeping with the head covered can reduce the oxygen content and increase carbon dioxide in the bedding, affecting normal breathing and even causing suffocation or cardiovascular diseases. The correct sleeping position is to lie on the right side, use a low pillow, keep the head outside the blanket, and bend and stretch both legs.
7. Avoid neglecting minor ailments
If the elderly have symptoms such as cold, cough, headache, or palpitations, it is necessary to seek timely treatment, especially in winter, to prevent further complications.
8. Avoid smoking and excessive drinking
In winter, the elderly often smoke, chat, and watch TV at the same time. Due to the closed environment, the smoke is not easily dispersed, which is harmful to the body. The accumulation of smoke over a long period of time has an even greater impact on the body. Some elderly people like to drink alcohol to keep warm, often indulging in excessive drinking and getting drunk. Due to the large temperature difference between indoors and outdoors in winter, alcohol weakens the body, making it more susceptible to cold invasion, causing damage to the heart, brain, and lungs.
