Wear more clothes in early spring

The weather is changeable in spring, with cold and hot days, with great differences in temperature and this is sometimes beyond people’s ability to adapt and regulate. If a sudden drop in temperature occurs and this is followed by a long period of rain, it will be more difficult for the temperature to rise again. At this time, if our winter clothes are taken off too early, the body may not be prepared for the weather changes, and therefore their ability to resist pathogens is decreased. People are then more prone to various viral infections including viral herpes, angina, influenza, bird flu, acute upper respiratory tract infection, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, and hay fever. These conditions may also cause recurrences of old diseases.

“Wearing more clothes during spring and less clothing in autumn” is a customs that conforms to the law of natural climates and is in accord with the needs of yang qi to be generated and dispersed in spring. However, we should understand which parts of the body are most important to keep warm; after Start of Spring, it is important to keep the head, neck, feet and back warm. 

How to keep “warm in spring” for the elderly with cardiovascular diseases?

Elderly adults with cerebral disorders, including chronic cerebral circulation insufficiency and stroke, are prone to suffer from symptoms of heaviness in the head, dizziness, and unstable walking. Therefore, they should pay attention to keeping the head warm, and avoid letting the cold wind directly blowing on the head, causing vasoconstriction and then aggravating their condition. For elderly people with chronic respiratory diseases, attention should be paid to keeping the chest and back warm, to prevent the reappearance of old diseases. For those with foot conditions due to diabetes, diabetic lower extremity neuropathy, or gout, the feet should be kept warm. If diagnosed as a deficiency-cold syndrome by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, it is recommended to eat warm foods in moderation for supplementation such as Chinese Date (Dà Zăo, Fructus Jujubae), longan and leeks.

However, the advise to “keep warm in spring” should be individualized to some degree, and it is better to keep the body warm but without causing sweating. If people still wear cotton clothes when it is has already become quite hot, the body temperature may become too high, and when the core body temperature is not appropriate, this is harmful to our health. When keeping the body too warm, even small movements will lead to sweating, which may deplete the body fluids.