The elderly are more cautious than others. A feeling of cold reinforced by many factors, both physiological and behavioral. Explanations and advice to protect yourself from the cold.
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[EN VIDÉO] Should you eat fatty foods when it’s cold? In winter, the body must make more efforts to fight against the cold. But while it may seem logical to eat more fat, this statement does not really hold up with our current lifestyles.
The elderly have tend to be more cautious than middle-aged adults. Their body temperature is significantly lower, often between 36 and 36.6 degrees (against 36.6 to 37.5 ° C in normal times). This feeling cold reinforced can have several causes.
- Older people tend to eat less, leading to weight loss and mass greasy, protective of the cold.
- They also lose muscles who, too, participate in global warming via chills. L’hypothalamus, which regulates internal temperature, is less effective as we age. We therefore adapt less well to changes in temperature.
- Blood vessels tend to narrow with age and therefore less supply to the extremities. This is why older people often have cold hands and feet.
- the adipose tissue loses a certain type of immune cell (cells lymphoid group 2) which restore the heat body when it is cold.
- Older people are less physically active. However, the less we move, the less we warm up.
- Taking certain medications (antihypertensives, neuroleptics, anxiolytics, hormonal treatments …) can worsen the feeling of cold.
The dangers of cold in the elderly
The feeling of cold induces great fatigue and increases the blood pressure, hence an increased risk of heart attack. The cold also worsens respiratory ailments, especially since the immune system is less effective in the elderly. The cold also accentuates rheumatism orarthritis, causing pains disabling. Finally, numbness in the limbs associated with the cold can increase the risk of falls.
Elderly people: how to protect themselves from the cold?
- Stay in movement : get up regularly, go outside for a walk (while being well covered!), etc.
- Eat properly and do not neglect proteins. Also think about hot soups, rich in fiber and vitamins.
- Drink enough, especially hot drinks (tea, herbal tea, chocolate …)
- Cover yourself properly, especially the extremities (feet, hands, neck, etc.)
- Reasonably heat your house: a temperature of 20 to 24 ° C is recommended in living rooms.
- Avoid currentsair and ventilate the house for no more than 10 minutes per day.
- Sleep with a thick duvet or sheets heated with a hot water bottle.
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