As the weather turned cold in the north, many elderly people suffering from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis were hospitalized in critical condition.
More than 130% increase in lung disease patients hospitalized for treatment
According to records from Central Lung Hospital, the number of hospital admissions increased during the cold wave.
In the Department of Chronic Lung Disease, patient Ho Van Poi (65 years old, living in Thanh Hoa) has been hospitalized for nearly two weeks. Poi, who has suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for 20 years, had to undergo monthly checkups at a provincial hospital for about a year. However, recently, due to the cold weather, Mr. Foy’s illness has become worse and it is difficult to breathe. His family took him to the emergency room. After artificial respiration at the provincial hospital, he was transferred to the Central Lung Hospital for treatment.
“My father was admitted to the hospital with difficulty breathing and had to be put on a ventilator because there was a lot of carbon dioxide in his lungs and low oxygen, and the doctor said he needed to isolate the carbon dioxide in his lungs.” Hoang Thi Lien (the patient’s daughter) said, “After being transferred to the Central Lung Hospital and receiving treatment, her condition has improved noticeably. She is off the ventilator and is only breathing oxygen.”
▶ In the North, the number of patients hospitalized for respiratory diseases increased due to the cold.
Bhuvantan, head of the chronic lung disease department at Central Lung Hospital, said, “Recently, as the weather in the north has become colder, the number of patients with respiratory diseases is increasing in all diseases.” Agency. In particular, in the case of chronic lung disease, many patients are closely related to environmental factors, so the number of patients visiting the clinic has increased noticeably.
Previously, the department treated about 200 inpatients/month, but last month, the number of patients increased by 130% to about 250 patients.
Tan explained that weather factors are risk factors for respiratory illness, especially when the weather turns cold. This is because the lungs are organs that communicate directly with the external environment when we breathe. All changes in the external environment affect the lungs.
In particular, patients with underlying diseases (chronic respiratory diseases-bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, reduced immunity) in the case of low resistance, such as the elderly and children under 5 years of age. They become more vulnerable when the weather changes, especially in cold weather. Most of the cases that require hospitalization for examination and treatment are serious and serious, mainly for the elderly and children.
“In this department of chronic lung disease, hospitalized patients are given a little oxygen and mechanically ventilated. Most of them got out of acute inflammation and were discharged after treatment, but some seriously ill patients were intubated and died.
The 55 hospital beds are always full. Currently, there are 15 patients on non-invasive mechanical ventilation, and the rest are on oxygen breathing. “More than 25% of patients are in serious and critical condition, and the number of critically ill patients has increased, especially since November,” Tan said.
5 things to pay attention to to prevent illness during the cold season
Disease prevention is of utmost importance. Prevention includes specific and non-specific measures, such as:
First, if there is an underlying disease, it is necessary to follow the expert’s words and manage the disease well.
Second, people need to have a reasonable diet to improve resistance. Especially in the case of the elderly during the changing seasons, sufficient meals and scientific sleep are required.
Third, elderly people who wake up frequently at night and are not careful can catch a cold and cause respiratory infections, strokes, and heart attacks, which is very dangerous.
In the case of young children, it is also important to pay attention at night to avoid catching a cold that can easily cause pneumonia.
Fourth, active protection against diseases through vaccination. Patients with underlying medical conditions and those aged 65 years and older without underlying medical conditions should receive annual influenza and pneumococcal vaccines, which help reduce the risk of diseases that damage the lungs.
Fifth, when the weather is cold, everyone who goes out needs to warm up, and it is recommended to wear a mask to help avoid respiratory pathogens and keep the body warm.
-GMK Media