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The midsummer sun scorched the earth, and the air was filled with a sultry smell. 68-year-old Uncle Zhang dragged his tired body and slowly walked into the community park.
He wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead, took a deep breath, and prepared to begin his daily thunderous morning exercise.
However, just as he was about to take a step, a sudden feeling of dizziness struck.
Uncle Zhang felt that the world was spinning, his eyes were dark, and the whole person fell forward uncontrollably. With a "bang", he fell heavily to the ground.
"Uncle Zhang! Uncle Zhang!" Neighbors passing by ran over with exclamations. Everyone hurriedly helped Uncle Zhang up, but found that he had fallen into a coma. An ambulance arrived soon and took Uncle Zhang to the hospital.
After diagnosis, the doctor found that Uncle Zhang fainted due to heat stroke. It turned out that Uncle Zhang had always had high blood pressure, and he usually didn't pay much attention to diet and rest.
I went out for exercise early in the morning, didn't drink enough water, and the weather was sweltering, which led to heat stroke.
Uncle Zhang's experience is not unique in the hot summer. Every summer, especially during the dog days, there is a spike in the number of seniors seeking medical attention for heat stroke or other heat-related illnesses.
So why are older people more susceptible to hot weather? How can they protect themselves on dog days?
First of all, we need to understand the physiological characteristics of the elderly. As we age, our functions gradually decline.
According to a review article published in the Chinese Journal of Geriatrics [1], the elderly have decreased cardiopulmonary function, decreased vascular elasticity, and reduced subcutaneous fat, all of which affect their ability to adapt to temperature changes.
In addition, the function of the thermoregulatory center in the elderly is also weakened. Professor Wang Jianye, Chief Physician of the Department of Geriatrics at Peking University Third Hospital, pointed out:
"The elderly's ability to regulate body temperature is reduced, and it is not easy to perceive changes in environmental temperature, and they are prone to rising or falling body temperature." [2]
Based on these characteristics, the elderly need to pay special attention to the following three things when dog days are approaching:
1. Arrange work and rest reasonably and avoid exposure to the sun
Going out early in the morning to exercise like Uncle Zhang is actually not suitable for the elderly.
The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that older adults avoid outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when temperatures are at their highest [3].
If you must go outside, take sun protection measures as well. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, and light-colored, loose-fitting clothing are all good options. At the same time, try to choose a shaded place to walk and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.
2. Maintain adequate water intake
Older people's thirst tends to dull with age, and it's easy to neglect hydration. But in hot weather, it's especially important to stay hydrated.
The Chinese Nutrition Society recommends that the elderly should drink about 1500-1700 ml of water per day [4].
However, it should be noted that the situation of different elderly people is different, and the elderly with heart disease, kidney disease and other diseases may need to control their water intake, and it is best to follow the doctor's instructions.
In addition to boiled water, the elderly can also drink some cool and heat-relieving drinks, such as mung bean soup, mint tea, etc. However, it is necessary to avoid drinking excessively cold beverages to avoid irritating the stomach and intestines.
3. Pay attention to indoor temperature regulation
Many elderly people are often reluctant to turn on the air conditioner in order to save electricity. But in extreme heat, this practice can be dangerous.
The Guidelines for Preventing Heatstroke and Cooling in the Elderly, published by the Chinese Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics, recommend that indoor temperatures should be maintained between 26 and 28°C [5].
If you use an air conditioner, the temperature should not be adjusted too low, and the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor should not exceed 5-7°C.
At the same time, pay attention to indoor ventilation, but avoid using electric fans to blow directly at people. The elderly have thin skin and are prone to cold, and blowing the air conditioner or fan for a long time may cause problems such as colds and diarrhea.
In addition to these three points, the elderly should also pay special attention to their own chronic disease management. Chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease are easy to aggravate in hot weather, so it is necessary to take medication on time and have regular check-ups.
Let's go back to Uncle Zhang's story. After timely treatment, Uncle Zhang quickly regained consciousness.
The doctor solemnly admonished him: "Uncle Zhang, you are lucky this time, if you find out a little later, the consequences may be serious." In the future, we must pay attention to heatstroke prevention and cooling. "
Uncle Zhang nodded again and again, and said with palpitations: "Doctor, I used to be really careless. I'll definitely pay attention to it in the future. "
After being discharged from the hospital, Uncle Zhang told other elderly people in the community about his experience. Everyone was taken aback and said they wanted to take it as a warning.
After hearing about it, the community neighborhood committee immediately organized a lecture on heatstroke prevention knowledge and invited professional doctors to popularize relevant knowledge for everyone.
At the lecture, the doctor emphasized the special attention of the elderly on dog days:
1. Exercise appropriately, but choose to do it in a cool period such as early morning or evening, and avoid strenuous exercise.
2. Eat a light diet, eat more vegetables and fruits, and eat less greasy food.
3. Dress moderately, choose sweat-absorbing and breathable fabrics.
4. If you experience symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and burning skin, you should seek medical attention in time.
After listening to the lecture, the elderly people in the community benefited a lot. Everyone has expressed their desire to remind each other to spend this hot summer together.
After listening to the lecture, Uncle Zhang's neighbor Grandma Wang sighed: "I used to think that it was too expensive to turn on the air conditioner, but now I know how important it is for us elderly people to use air conditioning properly."
Another Uncle Li said: "I usually feel that if I drink more water, I have to go to the toilet more, which is troublesome. Now I understand that drinking plenty of water is an important way to protect yourself in this weather. "
Through this event, the elderly in the entire community have raised awareness of heat prevention. Everyone began to care for each other, often reminding each other to drink more water and go out less.
The community has also added shade facilities and installed water dispensers in the park to make it easier for the elderly to rehydrate in a timely manner.
Over time, Uncle Zhang made a full recovery. He now drinks a large glass of warm water every morning and does some simple exercise at home.
When the sun is less scorching, he will go for a walk in the park with his neighbors and chat.
This summer, although it was still hot, the elderly in the community survived safely. They understand that taking care of their health is more important than anything else in hot weather.
Through Uncle Zhang's story, we can see that for the elderly, dog days are indeed a challenge that cannot be ignored.
But as long as we pay more attention and take proper precautions, we will definitely be able to survive this hot season safely.
Let's care for the elderly around us and help them spend a cool and comfortable summer. Remember, in the hot summer, caring for the elderly is not only a responsibility, but also a transmission of love.
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[This content is a fictional short story, and any name, place name, or other aspects involved in the text have nothing to do with reality (without any implications). If there is any similarity, it is purely a coincidence, please read it rationally. 】