■ Respiratory diseases increase as the daily temperature difference increases
Humans are thermophilic animals that need to maintain a constant body temperature. During the changing season, when the daily maximum and minimum temperature difference is more than 10℃, our body goes through various changes to adapt to the daily temperature difference. Starting with the autonomic nervous system, muscles, blood vessels, and even the skin consume more energy than usual, reducing the energy required for immune cells. In particular, during the changing seasons of autumn, the air becomes dry and the respiratory tract is easily stimulated. As the respiratory mucosa becomes weaker than usual, it becomes vulnerable to various infections. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, in 2021, major seasonal diseases such as colds, rhinitis, and sore throat showed the lowest level in August, when summer ends, and then turned to a sharp increase from September. The number of colds was the lowest of the year at 170,000 in August, but increased by 100,000 to 270,000 in September. In fact, there are a lot of cold patients on the way to autumn. Also, the number of rhinitis patients doubled from 490,000 in August to 980,000 in September. Allergic rhinitis caused by external stimuli such as rapid temperature change comes easily when the respiratory system becomes sensitive due to a large daily temperature change. Nasal congestion, sneezing, and a clear runny nose are common, and the eyes and nose are itchy. The symptoms appear and disappear repeatedly, so it is easy to ignore it, but when it becomes chronic, it is a painful disease. Sore throat is a respiratory disease that signals autumn. Bacteria or viruses penetrate through the cracks in the immune system, causing inflammation in the pharynx and larynx, which is often mistaken for a cold. If the treatment time is missed, it is accompanied by complications such as acute otitis media or pneumonia, so be careful.
■ In the changing seasons of autumn, to protect my body well
In dry weather, supplement with more water than usual so that the respiratory mucosa and cell activity do not deteriorate. Drinking water frequently helps to improve blood circulation and boost immunity. In autumn, when the air is stagnant as the air cools down, fine dust increases, so pay attention to ventilation and indoor cleaning, and to wash your hands and feet well following going out is a way to prevent respiratory diseases. Seo Won-na, head of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Incheon Himchan Hospital, said, “In the changing seasons of autumn, it is necessary to develop immunity first. If the body temperature is not properly controlled in the state of lack of exercise and nutritional loss, it is easy to get various diseases due to weakened immunity. On days with severe temperature changes in the morning and evening, the flexibility of muscles and joints decreases, and the activity of enzymes involved in energy metabolism decreases, so exercise ability may decrease. Therefore, it is necessary to do enough warm-up exercises before starting exercise. Exercise clothes are also important to protect body temperature. Cotton products that absorb sweat well are recommended for clothes worn on the bare skin, and clothes that block wind and heat are recommended for outdoor clothes. If you feel the heat during exercise and take off your outerwear, you should put on the coat as soon as you finish the exercise to prevent a decrease in body temperature. And on days when the temperature difference is severe, it is necessary to properly adjust the clothes during exercise so as not to sweat as much as possible during exercise. Above all, excessive strenuous exercise should be avoided. When exercise acts as stress, the body releases stress hormones and negatively affects immune functions, such as generating free radicals in the body, so it is important to exercise properly and well-balanced.
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