The temperature has dropped sharply recently, and the cold weather may affect the elderly, pregnant women, infants and young children, patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (such as hypertension, stroke, coronary heart disease, etc.), respiratory diseases and other chronic diseases, and people who work or do activities outdoors for a long time, which requires special attention.

Older people are more sensitive to cold than young people. Due to their decreasing physical strength and weakened activity ability, the metabolic function of the elderly is reduced, affecting their heat production, leading to the poor body temperature regulation function. As a result, they are prone to have shivering and hypothermia in low-temperature environments or after exposure to cold. Therefore, in the cold season, it is necessary to be especially vigilant about hypothermia in the elderly.

Cold weather or sudden drops in temperature may trigger some illnesses.

1. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Low temperature stimulation will cause vasoconstriction, increased blood pressure, accelerated heart rate, myocardial ischemia, and increased blood viscosity to promote thrombosis. Therefore, sudden changes in temperature will aggravate the symptoms of patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, leading to stroke of patients with hypertension due to a sharp rise in blood pressure. Coronary artery spasm may also be induced, leading to myocardial infarction.

2. Respiratory system diseases. Cold air can dry out the local mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, causing small ruptures. Viruses and bacteria can easily break in, causing a high incidence of respiratory diseases. A sudden drop in temperature may aggravate asthma and other diseases.

3. Other diseases. People who work and live in cold areas or who work outdoors for a long time during sudden drops in temperature can easily cause frostbite, aggravation of waist and leg pain and rheumatic diseases. Low temperature can also be harmful to pregnant women and their babies.

When body hypothermia occurs, adults may experience chills, collapse, confusion, memory loss, slurred speech, drowsiness, etc., and infants and young children may experience bright red skin and coldness. If any of these symptoms appear, it is recommended to take your temperature immediately. If the temperature is lower than 35°C, it is necessary to seek medical attention immediately. When medical treatment is not available at once, the patient could follow the steps below to raise the body temperature.

1. Enter a warm room or residence and take off wet clothes in time.

2. Take measures to warm the core areas of your body, such as the chest, the neck, the head, and the groin.

3. Take hot drinks to help raise body temperature, but not alcoholic drinks. Do not give alcoholic drinks to unconscious people.

4. After the symptoms are relieved, it is necessary to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

Here are some tips from Beijing 120. During the cold wave, the people who feel unwell, especially those with chronic diseases such as the elderly, pregnant women, infants, and patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular, or respiratory diseases, etc., it is necessary to keep warm and go to the hospital in time. When a critical illness occurs, it is recommended to dial 120 as soon as possible to receive professional telephone guidance and pre-hospital medical emergency services as soon as possible.