Eyes of disappointment: which diseases worsen in late autumn
The transition from autumn to winter is considered the most difficult period of the year. Seasonal illnesses are accompanied by anxiety and sadness, which are aggravated by a lack of sun and dank, unstable weather. Izvestia found out what to pay attention to in order to minimize the risks associated with physical and mental health.
What diseases are getting worse
In late autumn and early winter, diseases caused by acute respiratory viral infections hold the upper hand, says Denis Prokofiev, a general practitioner, cardiologist, and holder of the status of "Moscow Doctor." These include influenza viruses and coronavirus infection. Pre—winter is the regular peak season of such ailments. The doctor attributes this primarily to hypothermia of the body and unstable weather events in the form of temperature fluctuations and precipitation.
— In late autumn, there is a tendency not only to an increase in such diseases, but also to an increase in the number of complications caused by acute respiratory viral infections. As a rule, this is expressed in the development of pneumonia and sinusitis," comments Dr. Prokofiev.
According to the cardiologist, the second major group of diseases characteristic of this season is the manifestation of cardiovascular diseases or exacerbation of existing chronic ones. In the cold, blood vessels constrict, which significantly increases the load on them and leads to an increase in the load on the heart.
"Therefore, we often see the development of paroxysmal forms of tachycardia, an increase in the pulse rate in a calm state, hypertensive crises, an increase in blood pressure above 160 to 80, angina attacks, and the presence of chest pains," the cardiologist lists.
Autumn is the wet season with a lot of rain, and this must be taken into account so as not to trigger health problems. Such weather conditions, according to the expert, can provoke the development of arthritis, osteoarthritis, gouty and psoriatic arthritis. People are concerned about problems related to joint diseases. "Unfortunately, cold and humidity are negative factors for such a group," summarizes Dr. Prokofiev.
— Do not forget that adverse weather events carry a certain stress factor, — the specialist continues. — In this regard, an increase in morbidity is also expected. Stress has an extremely adverse effect on the gastrointestinal tract. There are even gastrointestinal ulcers, which are called stress ulcers. In addition, psoriasis worsens in patients — stress is the leading factor in this disease.
Dr. Prokofiev calls the end of autumn and the beginning of winter a headache for ENT doctors. During this period, not only sinusitis worsens, but also allergic reactions develop associated with the activity of mold fungi, which actively multiply in fallen leaves and rooms with high humidity.
— Therefore, a large number of allergies, allergic sinusitis and dermatoses are recorded. It is important to keep in mind the problems typical of late autumn and try to avoid them. First of all, strengthen your immune status, maintain constant humidity in the room and dress according to the weather," summarizes Prokofiev.
The autumn diet
Snezanna Karpova, a gastroenterologist at the Be Healthy clinic on Sushchevsky Val, advises that in autumn, first of all, pay attention to nutrition — it should be balanced and varied.
— Of course, the menu should always be like this, but it is in autumn that you need to pay special attention to ensuring that the body receives enough vitamins and other biologically active substances. The upcoming long and cold winter, virus attacks, lack of sun and stress — all this requires a lot of effort and energy," says Snezhanna Karpova.
The gastroenterologist emphasizes that it is especially important to follow a diet in the fall. The main thing is not to stay hungry, so do not ignore the main meals. You can even add a few snacks between them.
— Be sure to include vegetables in the autumn diet. The new crop is a storehouse of vitamins, minerals and valuable fiber. Vegetables can be eaten raw, boiled, stewed, and baked," Karpova continues. — For example, pumpkin has antioxidant properties and a restorative effect on the immune system. Regular consumption of this vegetable serves to prevent osteoporosis. Pumpkin is also useful for diseases of the cardiovascular system.
According to the gastroenterologist, the daily intake of pumpkin is no more than 200-300 g for a healthy adult. It is worth giving up this vegetable in case of exacerbations of gastrointestinal diseases such as peptic ulcer and pancreatitis: the product can have an irritating effect on the stomach and intestines, as it contains coarse fibers (fiber). With diabetes, it is better to give preference to less sweet varieties.
The expert advises to increase the amount of dairy and fermented milk products in the diet — this is an ideal option for nutritious, but not so high-calorie food. It is better to choose products with medium fat content: milk, kefir, yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese, natural yogurt.
— Eat more whole—grain products: whole-grain bread, nuts, cereals, advises Snezhanna Karpova. — Such food is a valuable source of fiber, perfectly saturates the body with useful substances and retains a feeling of satiety for a long time. In addition, fiber improves the functioning of the digestive system and supports metabolism at the proper level, which is very important for a toned figure and good health.
Snezhanna Karpova advises to control the amount of fatty foods. Otherwise, there is a risk.
— In autumn, a person is in dire need not of proteins and fats, as it may seem, but of complex carbohydrates (or polysaccharides). Carbohydrates are the main suppliers of energy to our body, so they cannot be ignored. Complex carbohydrates, unlike simple ones, are digested more slowly and do not increase blood sugar levels," comments Karpova.
According to the gastroenterologist, it is better to give preference to healthy fats, which are found in lean meat, poultry, white fish, avocado, olive oil, nuts. However, they should also be consumed wisely and in certain quantities due to the risk of gaining excess weight.
Because the mood decreases in cloudy and rainy autumn weather, people often have a desire to eat "something delicious," most often sweet. In this case, in order not to gain extra calories, the gastroenterologist advises to treat yourself to tea with fragrant and appetizing additives. The smell and taste of such a drink can be quite enough to satisfy the need for sweets. And if you can't give up sweets, then dried fruits, dates, honey, berries and fruits can become a useful alternative to flour and confectionery products.
How to avoid depression
The transition period from autumn to winter really affects the mental state, confirms psychiatrist Alexei Vilkov.
— Lack of sun, short daylight hours and cloudy weather cause melancholy even in healthy people. Mood decreases, there is a slight loss of strength, and symptoms of neurasthenia, that is, emotional burnout, fatigue, and decreased motivation, are more common," the psychiatrist comments.
And people who are predisposed to depression have an exacerbation of a mental disorder during this period, and depressive experiences make themselves felt, warns Alexey Vilkov. Apathy, indifference to oneself and others takes hold of a person, mood steadily decreases, sleep is disrupted. Some people have increased anxiety. Moreover, anxiety disorder increases both under the influence of stress and without an obvious stress factor.
— In order to minimize negative phenomena, it is important to use an arsenal of different ways to improve mood and reduce anxiety, — says Vilkov. — These include the simplest options, such as walking in nature, socializing with pleasant people, and getting positive emotions from music, movies, TV shows, and books.
The psychiatrist emphasizes that it is important to receive neutral or positive information from any source, trying to ignore the negative. It is important to have a clear daily routine and get a good night's sleep. Various hobbies, as well as water treatments and sports activities will help to regain interest in life. According to the doctor's prescription, you can take activating vitamins. In short, everything that improves our tone and brings us out of a state of melancholy will help, the expert summarizes.
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