Recently, there have been strong winds and cooling weather in many parts of the country. Experts suggest that temperatures have dropped sharply. When going out, people should pay attention to keeping warm and avoid respiratory diseases such as colds. At the same time, attention should be paid to the impact of low temperatures on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and take good health protection measures. Duan Xiaochun, Deputy Director of the Emergency Critical Care Center at Beijing Anzhen Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University, introduced that the proportion of patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as chest pain, acute myocardial infarction, aortic dissection, and acute heart failure who come for treatment has also significantly increased due to strong winds and cooling weather. Experts explain that cold stimulation can cause blood vessels to contract, leading to an increase in blood pressure in the body. Patients with pre-existing hypertension may experience greater fluctuations in blood pressure, making it more difficult to control. Elevated blood pressure increases the work and oxygen consumption of the heart, placing a greater burden on the heart. In addition, as the temperature decreases, the viscosity of human blood increases, coagulation function is enhanced, and it is more likely to form blood clots, undoubtedly increasing the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. On February 8th, citizens rode bicycles to travel in Huai'an District, Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province. Affected by the cold wave, many places are experiencing strong winds and cooling weather. According to Duan Xiaochun from Xinhua News Agency (photo by Zhao Qirui), patients with hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and other diseases are the group most affected by temperature changes. Even if they feel healthy normally, those who do not pay attention to keeping warm during cooling weather and are in a cold environment for a long time are also prone to cardiovascular problems. Therefore, for people with underlying diseases, such as diagnosed heart failure, coronary heart disease, and hypertension patients, it is important to closely monitor their symptoms during temperature changes, pay attention to whether chest tightness, shortness of breath, and other symptoms have worsened, and whether the duration has increased. At the same time, pay attention to whether blood pressure fluctuates and is higher than before. Once these danger signals appear, we must be vigilant and seek medical attention in a timely manner, "said Duan Xiaochun. Experts suggest that when the temperature drops, it is advisable to minimize going out. If it is necessary to go out, it is important to take measures to keep warm, such as wearing hats, masks, scarves, etc., while reducing the amount of time spent outdoors. Elderly people who enjoy exercising in the early morning should choose to exercise at home when the temperature drops. If you want to go out and breathe fresh air, be sure to take protective measures and control your outdoor time. It should be noted that elderly people should adhere to taking their usual medication on time during the cooling period and not stop taking medication at will. If medication needs to be adjusted, one should seek the help of a doctor at the hospital and make adjustments according to the specific situation. In addition, it is also important to choose easily digestible and absorbable foods in diet, avoid consuming raw, cold, and hard foods, and reduce the stimulation to the body. The Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention reminds that elderly people, pregnant and postpartum women, infants and young children, and severe chronic patients should avoid or reduce outdoor activities as much as possible during strong winds and cold waves. At present, it is still in the high incidence period of respiratory infectious diseases such as influenza. It is important to maintain good hygiene habits such as hand hygiene and cough etiquette in daily life, take personal protective measures, and actively get vaccinated against influenza. (New Society)