Since the beginning of autumn, the temperature has gradually dropped, the wind has increased, and the air humidity has dropped significantly. Typical autumn dry weather has arrived as expected. Many citizens experience discomfort such as dry and itchy noses, repeated nosebleeds, dry throats, flaky skin, dry and hard stools, etc. Most people habitually think it is "heat". In this regard, doctors from the Shenyang Emergency Center reminded that these symptoms are not strong fire in the body, but typical autumn dryness syndrome, which is a seasonal and climatic dry mucous membrane injury that requires scientific conditioning and symptomatic protection.
In autumn, there is less precipitation, frequent windy weather, and continued low air humidity. The human nasal cavity, throat, skin and mucous membranes, and intestinal mucosa all need appropriate humidity to maintain normal physiological conditions. In a continuously dry environment, water on the body surface and mucous membranes loses rapidly, and the body's water replenishment rate cannot keep up with the evaporation rate, leading to a series of symptoms of dryness and discomfort. The essence is the physical damage caused by the dry environment, rather than "getting angry" in the traditional sense.
Autumn dryness mainly causes discomfort in many parts of the body by damaging the body's protective membrane. The nasal mucosa loses water and becomes thinner, the blood vessels are fragile, and it is easy to rupture and bleed; the throat mucosa becomes sensitive due to lack of water, causing dry and itchy throat, dry cough without phlegm; loss of skin moisture and oil, dryness and peeling, unbearable itching, and the recurrence of skin problems such as eczema; insufficient intestinal body fluid leads to dry and hard stools and labored defecation. The root causes of all the above discomforts are lack of water and moisture in the body, not excessive internal heat.
Doctors have sorted out the five typical symptoms of Autumn Dry Syndrome to facilitate self-examination by citizens: dry nasal cavity and repeated nosebleeds; dry and itchy throat and paroxysmal dry cough; chapped lips and ulcerated corners of the mouth; dry and itchy skin all over the body; dry intestines and dry stools.
In response to the high incidence of autumn dryness symptoms, doctors have given scientific prevention plans. In daily life, the indoor humidity can be maintained at 45% to 60% to reduce the evaporation of mucous membrane water; drink small amounts of water frequently and replenish water on a regular basis, and avoid gulping it down all at once after being thirsty; eat as lightly as possible and reduce the intake of hot snacks such as puffed and fried foods; in windy and cooling weather, reduce direct cold wind blowing on the head and face to reduce dryness and irritation of the mucous membranes.
In terms of refined care at home, citizens can focus on local moisturizing and repairing. Adhere to nasal moisturizing care to repair the nasal mucosal barrier and reduce the occurrence of nosebleeds; apply body moisturizer every day to lock in skin moisture and stabilize the skin barrier; eat more warm and moisturizing foods to gently nourish the body; have a regular work and rest schedule and avoid staying up late to avoid depleting body fluids and aggravating dryness all over the body.
At the same time, doctors specifically correct the most common misunderstandings about health care among the public: many people take heat-clearing and fire-removing drugs on their own once symptoms such as nosebleeds, dry throat, and dry cough occur. In fact, autumn dryness is dry damage caused by the external environment. There is no need to blindly clear away the fire and take medicine. Priority is given to moisturizing, hydrating, windproof, and moisturizing. Most symptoms can be significantly relieved.
To moisturize dryness in autumn, the emphasis is on scientific maintenance and symptomatic conditioning. Abandon the misconception that "dryness brings down the fire" and do a good job of daily moisturizing and daily protection, so that you can smoothly get through the period of high incidence of autumn dryness and protect your physical and mental health in autumn.
(Shan Qiang, Liaoshen Evening News)
