With the arrival of cold weather in the north, many elderly people suffering from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis have been hospitalized in critical condition.
More than 130% increase in lung disease patients admitted to hospital for treatment
According to data from Central Lung Hospital, the number of hospital admissions increased during the cold spell.
In the Department of Chronic Lung Diseases, patient Ho Van Poi (65 years old, a resident of Thanh Hoa) has been hospitalized for nearly two weeks. Then, who has had 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, Poi’s illness worsened and it became difficult to breathe. His family took him to the emergency room. After artificial respiration at the provincial hospital, he was transferred to the central pulmonary 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 not much 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 Central Lung Hospital and receiving treatment, her condition has greatly improved. She is no longer on a ventilator and is only breathing oxygen.”
▶ In the North, due to the cold, the number of patients hospitalized for respiratory diseases has increased.
Bhuvantan, head of chronic lung disease department at Central Lung Hospital, said, “Recently, as the climate in the north has become colder, the number of patients with respiratory diseases is increasing across all diseases.” Agency. Especially 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 significantly.
Previously, the ward treated about 200 inpatients a 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 disease, 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 disease-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 as the weather changes, especially when it’s cold. Most cases requiring hospitalization for examination and treatment are severe and severe, mainly for the elderly and children.
“In this chronic lung disease ward, inpatients receive some oxygen and are mechanically ventilated. Most of them recovered from acute inflammation and were discharged after treatment, but some seriously ill patients were intubated.” and they are dead.
The 55 hospital beds are always full. Currently, there are 15 patients on non-invasive mechanical ventilation and the rest are breathing oxygen. “More than 25 percent of patients are in severe 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 illnesses during the cold season
Disease prevention is of the utmost importance. Prevention includes specific and non-specific measures, such as:
First, if there is an underlying disease, you need to follow the expert’s words and manage the disease well.
Secondly, people must have a reasonable diet to improve endurance. Especially in the case of the elderly during the change of seasons, sufficient meals and scientific sleep are required.
Thirdly, 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 important to be careful even at night to avoid catching a cold which can easily cause pneumonia.
Fourth, active protection against disease through vaccination. Patients with underlying medical conditions and those 65 years of age and older with no underlying medical conditions should receive yearly flu and pneumococcal vaccines, which help reduce the risk of diseases that damage the lungs.
Fifth, in cold weather, everyone who goes out should keep warm, and it is recommended to wear a mask to avoid respiratory pathogens and keep the body warm.
-GMK Media
