Nghe An: Stroke and pneumonia patients increase due to severe cold

At this time, the Department of Emergency Resuscitation and Anti-Poisoning, Vinh General Hospital has 27 patients being treated. Half of them are patients with pneumonia. Photo: Duc Anh

Pneumonia patients increased

At this time, the Department of Emergency Resuscitation and Anti-Poisoning - Vinh City General Hospital is treating 27 patients. Half of them are elderly patients with severe pneumonia, combined with many other diseases such as osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic bronchitis, asthma, bronchiectasis, chronic rhinitis... With these long-term chronic diseases, in the cold season they often recur or get worse, making the health of the elderly more susceptible to pneumonia - Doctor Ngo Nam Hai - Head of the Department of Emergency Resuscitation and Anti-Poisoning - Vinh City General Hospital said.

According to Dr. Ngo Nam Hai: The weather in Nghe An is very hot right now.cold, is a favorable condition for pathogenic microorganisms to develop easily, including microorganisms that cause respiratory diseases. In cold, cold weather, if the elderly do not wear warm enough clothes, eat a diet lacking in nutrients, bathe with cold water, have a drafty bedroom and lack blankets and mattresses, they are more likely to get pneumonia. If the elderly are addicted to cigarettes, tobacco or live in areas with a lot of dust and smoke, poor environmental hygiene in the cold season, pneumonia is more likely to appear... These are the reasons why pneumonia patients have increased during this period.

Severe cold makes elderly people with chronic diseases susceptible to pneumonia. Photo: Duc Anh

Doctor Ngo Nam Hai - Head of the Department of Emergency Resuscitation and Anti-Poison - Vinh City General Hospital recommends:

Regarding disease prevention, the elderly need to avoid sudden cold, so every day when bathing, washing should be done with warm water, in a room with no wind, after bathing, dry the body, hair, put on clothes immediately and should not bathe for too long. If the elderly are weak and cannot bathe by themselves, or are not mentally alert, they should have the support of family members or helpers. Every day, the elderly need to clean their mouth and throat by brushing their teeth, gargling after eating, before and after waking up. Elderly people with dentures need to clean them weekly or every few days.

In the cold, rainy season, the elderly should limit going out. If work cannot be delayed, it is necessary to wear warm clothes, socks on hands and feet, a warm scarf around the neck, a warm hat and a mask. At the same time, one should have a reasonable diet to increase resistance and should not smoke. One should exercise daily with morning exercises and practice breathing evenly (inhale deeply, exhale slowly).

Similar to Vinh City General Hospital, atNghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, the number of children with respiratory diseases accounts for about 70% of patients coming for examination and treatment here. Many children have bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, sore throats...

Children with respiratory diseases account for 70% of patients coming for examination and treatment. Photo: Duc Anh

Master, Doctor Dau Thi Hoi, Department of Examination,Maternity and Pediatrics HospitalNghe An shares tips on protecting children in cold weather to avoid pneumonia:

Parents need to keep their children warm properly. Children need to be dressed really warmly, such as gloves, socks, hats or scarves, etc., especially avoid taking children out in cold weather if not really necessary. Note, avoid using means of keeping warm that can be harmful to children, such as wearing too thick clothes. The more children cough, the more thick clothes make it more difficult for them to breathe.

Hygiene is essential and also depends on the weather conditions outside. If it is moderately cold, we can bathe the baby at the warmest time of the day. When bathing the baby, try to close the door to avoid drafts. Do not immerse the baby's whole body in water, but bathe each part. Dry the baby as you bathe and then dress the baby in dry, long-sleeved, warm clothes.

In addition, parents should avoid letting their children come into close contact with someone who has a cold or cough. A nutritious diet helps increase children's resistance to all diseases, not just respiratory diseases. Flu and pneumococcal vaccinations should be given early because the effectiveness of the vaccination takes more than three weeks, especially for children with chronic diseases, the elderly, and asthma patients, because in cold weather, flu and pneumonia can come at any time.

Many people hospitalized due to stroke

Nghe An Stroke Center is currently treating 103 stroke patients. Patients are constantly coming in and out. Photo: Duc Anh

The cold weather is causing severe cold, which is causing the Nghe An Stroke Center,Nghe An General Friendship Hospitaloverloaded. At this time, the Center is treating 103 patients (normally the number of patients here is about 80-85 people).

Master, Doctor Kieu Van Duong, Nghe An Stroke Center said: The majority of patients are elderly. They are admitted to the hospital in a serious condition, with many underlying diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and previous strokes. The number of patients admitted to the hospital increased this time due to the cold weather causing patients to have sudden changes in blood pressure leading to strokes. Patients being treated at the center have two main types of disease, which are cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage.

The number of stroke patients is continuously coming in and out at Nghe An Stroke Center. Due to the overload situation at the Center, there are also some patients being treated in other departments of Nghe An General Hospital such as Internal Medicine A, Geriatrics, Intensive Care...

Nghe An Stroke Center is currently overloaded with patients. Photo: Duc Anh

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Hoa - Director of Nghe An Stroke Center recommends: With the prolonged cold weather, everyone needs to pay attention to disease prevention, especially cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The elderly should always wear warm clothes and limit going out when not necessary. Avoid sudden cold exposure such as bathing or going out to exercise in the morning. Houses, especially in rural and mountainous areas, should be covered to keep the heat in the house and should not open the doors wide to let cold air into the house.

People with underlying diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease... need to comply with treatment and take medication regularly. Taking pills advertised as stroke prevention pills sold on the market is completely unscientific and can even be a "waste of money and health". Everyone should drink enough water and eat lots of fruit to supplement the necessary vitamins for the body.

When detecting one of the following signs: mouth crooked to one side, difficulty speaking, numbness and weakness in one arm or leg... immediately take the patient to the hospital without delay. Do not foolishly prick the patient's fingertips and toes to make the patient more painful and increase the risk of infection./.