Autumn is a season of transition between hot and cold, with large temperature differences between day and night and frequent changes in temperature. The gastrointestinal tract is very sensitive to cold stimulation. If patients with stomach problems do not pay attention to protection, diet and lifestyle, it will trigger stomach pain or aggravate old conditions.
1. Take medication accurately
Autumn is not only a season prone to gastrointestinal diseases, but also a season when other illnesses are more likely to occur. Some medications used to treat these illnesses can irritate the esophagus and gastric mucosa, causing adverse gastrointestinal reactions after taking them, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and phenylbutazone. If these medications need to be taken, it is best to take them after or during meals, as having food in the stomach can reduce the irritation of the medication to the gastrointestinal tract.
2. Frequent abdominal massage
Abdominal massage can harmonize the upper and lower body, regulate yin and yang, eliminate old and generate new, nourish the five internal organs, expel external pathogens, and clear internal ailments. Modern medicine believes that abdominal massage can increase blood flow to the abdominal muscles and intestinal smooth muscles, increase the tension of the gastrointestinal wall muscles and lymphatic system function, and activate the secretory function of the stomach and intestines, thereby strengthening the digestion, absorption, and excretion of food, preventing and eliminating constipation, which is especially needed for the elderly. The method is to choose to perform it before going to sleep at night and before getting up in the morning. Empty your bladder, wash your hands, lie on your back with your knees slightly bent, relax your whole body, place your left hand on your abdomen with your palm facing your navel, and place your right hand on top of your left hand. First, massage your abdomen clockwise around the navel 50 times, then massage counterclockwise 50 times. When massaging, use moderate force, concentrate, and breathe naturally.
III. Keeping warm and protecting against the cold
After the autumn chill sets in, the temperature difference between day and night becomes significant. People with chronic gastritis should pay special attention to keeping their stomachs warm, adding clothes as needed, and covering themselves well with blankets at night to prevent their abdomen from getting cold, which could trigger stomach pain or worsen their existing condition.
Fourth, calm down and stay calm.
"Autumn winds and rains bring sorrow," goes the saying. As autumn brings less sunshine and lower temperatures, especially in late autumn when grass withers, leaves fall, and flowers fade, many people experience feelings of desolation, melancholy, and restlessness. Professor Hu Weiqin believes that the occurrence and development of stomach ailments and duodenal ulcers are closely related to a person's emotions and mental state. Therefore, it is important to maintain mental health, keep a cheerful spirit and emotional stability, and avoid the stimulation of negative emotions such as tension, anxiety, and anger. At the same time, it is crucial to balance work and rest to prevent overwork from hindering the recovery of stomach ailments.
V. Adjusting Diet
In autumn, it's important to eat more foods that nourish yin and moisten dryness to avoid damage from dryness. Reduce your intake of spicy foods and increase your consumption of acidic foods. Your diet should be warm, soft, bland, vegetarian, and fresh. Avoid foods that are too cold, too hot, too hard, too spicy, or too sticky. Eat more easily digestible foods and less raw vegetables, salads, and other cooling foods. Eat smaller, more frequent meals at regular times to ensure there is always food in your stomach to neutralize stomach acid and prevent further damage to the gastric mucosa and ulcers.
VI. Appropriate exercise
Patients with gastrointestinal problems should combine their physical signs with appropriate exercise to improve their body's resistance to disease, reduce the recurrence of the disease, and promote physical and mental health.
