According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the cold air mass is pouring into the Northern region, causing the weather in Hanoi to become cloudy, with night and early morning temperatures decreasing compared to previous days. The lowest forecast in the Capital in this period is commonly from about 17-19 degrees Celsius, the weather continues to be cold and humid due to the influence of the Northeast monsoon combined with scattered rain.
Recorded from Nam Thang Long Hospital (Hanoi), the number of elderly people coming for examination and hospitalization has increased significantly. In particular, musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoarthritis of the knee, spine, toes and rheumatoid arthritis account for a high proportion of the total number of patients coming for examination.
Talking to reporters, Specialist Doctor Vu Thuy Linh, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, said that the elderly inherently have osteoarthritis depending on age, so when the temperature drops and the humidity is high, the joint pain will worsen. According to the doctor, vasoconstriction in the peripheral area when cold reduces the amount of blood and nutrients to the joints, joint fluid becomes slimmer, making it difficult for patients to move and more painful.
People who have had osteoarthritis or arthritis before will be prone to recurrence or increased pain, and may even experience obvious swelling, heat, and pain in the joints. The pain resistance level in the elderly, which is lower, also makes them feel more intense pain when the weather is cold and humid.
Many patients when in severe pain cannot sleep, eat poorly, and have reduced quality of life. In some severe cases, prolonged movement disorders change the shape of limbs and make walking difficult.
For cases of osteoarthritis or arthritis, if the condition recurs in episodes and progresses for a long time, if not treated promptly, after inflammation, it will progress to joint adhesions, stiff joints, muscle atrophy, and even the patient may become disabled" - The doctor emphasized that some serious complications may occur.
Doctors recommend that people keep their bodies warm, especially the neck, back, feet and knee joints, wear warm clothes, wear scarves, and hats when going out, limit showering with cold water or showering too often, and shower in airtight rooms with warm water.
At the same time, the elderly should maintain a suitable lifestyle, exercise lightly and regularly; ensure a balanced diet, provide enough lipids, glucids, proteins and micronutrients such as vitamin D3, calcium to support and strengthen bone and joint health.
Patients who have just experienced severe pain should be re-examined in a timely manner for doctors to assess the condition, advise on lifestyle and appropriate treatment, to avoid the disease progressing severely and causing irreversible complications.
