Stay cheerful and don’t “mourn the autumn.”
“With the arrival of the Autumn Equinox, northern winds bring more cold.” September 23 marks the “Autumn Equinox” in the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. Experts warn that as this solar term arrives, cold air becomes increasingly active, and the speed at which temperatures drop noticeably accelerates. To avoid catching a cold, the public should enhance self-care and pay attention to adding autumn clothing.
Meteorological experts indicate that starting from the Autumn Equinox, the phenomenon of shorter days and longer nights in the Northern Hemisphere will become increasingly evident. The temperature difference between day and night will gradually widen, and temperatures will decline day by day, gradually stepping into the deep autumn season. As the farming proverb goes: “On the night of White Dew and the Autumn Equinox, it gets colder night by night,” and “Each autumn rain brings more chill; after ten autumn rains, it’s time for cotton.”
Li Yanling, head of the Nutrition Department at the First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, reminds the public that after the Autumn Equinox, the speed at which temperatures drop will significantly increase. In addition to increasing physical exercise to improve fitness, people should stay alert to weather changes, dress warmly in a timely manner, and cover up well with blankets while sleeping at night to prevent colds. Elderly individuals, in particular, whose metabolic functions have declined and blood circulation slowed, are highly sensitive to weather changes and may need to add some heavier clothing as appropriate. Those suffering from chronic gastritis should pay special attention to keeping their stomachs warm.
In addition, due to dropping temperatures, human metabolism and physiological functions are in a suppressed state, which can lead to endocrine dysfunction and further result in low mood. Li Yanling suggests that to overcome this “autumn blues,” one should maintain regular eating habits with a light diet, and in terms of mental well-being, stay optimistic and focus on happy thoughts.