People with chronic diseases should stay alert in winter

People with chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should pay special attention during winter, as the cold weather may exacerbate or worsen their currently stable and controlled condition.

Dr. Daniel de la Cruz from Shanghai United Family Hospital’s Internal Medicine Department cautions that people with hypertension should check their morning blood pressure regularly due to morning blood pressure surge. “It is important for hypertensives to be aware of their baseline blood pressure in order to identify a risky situation in time,” he said. “Cold weather in winter can impose negative effects on blood pressure. Morning blood pressure surge may be exaggerated during the cold weather, especially among the elderly.  The higher the morning blood pressure surge, the higher the risk for heart attack, stroke, and end organ damage.  Hence, be mindful of symptoms like headache, dizziness, and chest pain.  If any of these or other problems are observed, it is best to visit your physician for an evaluation.”

For those with diabetes, adhering to a healthy, well-balanced diabetic diet, and continuing regular daily exercise is important. People usually eat more and exercise less in winter, which can increase blood sugar and worsen diabetics’ condition. “A healthy lifestyle is crucial for all people with chronic diseases. Diabetics should pay more attention to their caloric intake and must step up monitoring if their blood sugar is not controlled,” he said.

Respiratory diseases are more common in winter as people tend to stay indoors where it’s warm. When one of our family members or colleagues gets a runny nose, nasal congestion, and cough, there is an increased chance to expose and infect the entire family or office. “People with respiratory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD and asthma should stay extra alert in winter, as getting a common cold or cough may exacerbate these conditions,” he said.  To prevent getting or spreading infection we should limit our exposure to sick persons, wear masks, and practice effective hand-washing.

“Cold air may also trigger asthma attacks among susceptible populations. They should stay at home if it is very cold and keep good ventilation indoors. If going out, it is essential to keep warm.”

“If suffering from symptoms like fever, cough, chest pain, difficulty of breathing, or shortness of breath, it is important to visit your primary health care provider for an evaluation.”

“Smoking is unhealthy for everyone, and especially so for people with COPD or asthma. Needless to say, it is extremely important for these people to avoid smoking,” Dr. Daniel said.