China Meteorological News reporter Wan Xia
It is late autumn, and the temperature in most parts of the north is "diving". With the rapid drop of temperature, people began to add warm clothes to avoid the occurrence of meteorological sensitive diseases. However, a large number of people still adhere to the traditional concept of "freezing in spring and freezing in autumn" and think that "freezing in autumn is more conducive to health". In this regard, Professor Wang Shigong, executive vice president of the Institute of Environmental Meteorology and Health, Chengdu University of Information Science and Technology, believes that for young children and the elderly and infirm, "freezing-free in spring and autumn" should be advocated.
Related diseases induced by abnormal weather and climate changes are called meteorological sensitive diseases. China has a complex terrain, with an altitude difference of more than 8,000 meters between the east and the west, and a temperature difference of more than 50℃ between the north and the south in winter. It has a variety of climate types and is sensitive to global climate change. It is one of the countries with the most types of meteorological sensitive diseases in the world.
According to Wang Shigong, the existing research shows that people are warm-blooded animals and have a perfect body temperature regulation mechanism. When the external environment temperature changes, the body temperature can be kept relatively stable by physiologically regulating the heat generation and heat dissipation process. Every year in late autumn and early winter, cold air activities are frequent, and the temperature drop is large. When the temperature change exceeds the limit that the normal function of human body can bear, some meteorological sensitive diseases may be caused.
"Spring and autumn are the high-incidence seasons of some meteorological sensitive diseases (such as circulatory diseases and respiratory diseases). In this regard, for thousands of years, the working people in China have gradually gained a unique understanding and countermeasures. All the year round, spring, summer, autumn and winter cycle, spring is the transition season from winter to summer, and the temperature changes from cold to hot, so people are used to dressing as much as possible. Autumn is a transitional season from summer to winter, and the temperature changes from hot to cold, so people are accustomed to’ freezing as much as possible’. Therefore, there is a saying that’ spring is frozen in autumn’, which has a far-reaching impact on ordinary people. " Wang Shigong said that young children and the elderly and infirm have poor adaptability and adjustment ability, and it is often difficult to cope with sudden sharp cooling. This kind of vulnerable people had better not believe in "autumn freezing", but should avoid freezing and keep warm.
In autumn and winter, low temperature and cold wave weather have a wide influence, which will not only directly lead to human injury and disease, but even indirectly lead to death. Studies have shown that more than half of the excess deaths caused by low temperature and cold wave are caused by ischemic heart disease, and deaths caused by respiratory diseases account for about a quarter. In addition, for every 1℃ drop in warm areas, the percentage of mortality increase is obviously higher than that in cold areas.
Wang Shigong explained that when the outside temperature drops and the heat generated by the human body is not enough to meet the heat dissipation, the heat generation and heat dissipation mechanism of the human body will be out of balance. If warm-keeping measures are not taken at this time, the body will be damaged for too long. "In a cold environment, the human body will produce a series of physiological reactions, first of all, the body temperature drops. When the body temperature drops to 34℃, the excitability of the human central nervous system is enhanced, and the body is effectively regulated, and the obvious reaction of the body is chills; When the body temperature drops to 31℃, breathing and heart rate slow down, and the human body’s feeling of pain stimulation has disappeared; When the body temperature drops to 20 C, breathing and pulse are weak, blood pressure drops, reflex disappears, coma and even death may occur. "
Wang Shigong believes that at present, in the study of climate change and human health, temperature is considered to be the most important meteorological factor and the leading factor inducing most meteorological sensitive diseases of human body. Under the background of abnormal global climate change and frequent extreme weather in autumn and winter, we should pay more attention to the impact of this abnormal change on human health. Therefore, it is necessary to actively carry out climate health education, remind the public to change their original ideas, and enhance their awareness of extreme weather and climate, especially middle-aged and elderly people, infants and high-risk and sensitive people who have previously suffered from certain diseases should avoid "autumn freezing". "When strong cold air strikes in autumn and winter, we must increase warm-keeping measures in time to avoid the decline of the body’s immune function due to colds, and we should bear in mind that’ autumn is free from freezing, which is conducive to winter’."
(Source: China Meteorological News, October 30, 2017 Third Edition Editor: Wang Meili)
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