The tail of the autumn heat waves curls three times, and the fan in hand swings three times. During the National Day holiday, Changsha enjoyed clear skies and bright sunshine, feeling like midsummer again with lingering discomfort from the heat. In recent days, temperatures have dropped, and the sudden shifts between cold and warm have been hard on the elderly, the frail, pregnant women, and children.
At Changsha Municipal Hospital (Changsha Eighth Hospital), the emergency department, pediatric clinic, and respiratory medicine clinic saw a surge in patients—primarily children and the elderly—presenting with upper respiratory infections and gastrointestinal disorders after the holiday. Experts caution that as we enter late autumn, with its dry climate and chilly mornings and evenings, maintaining a regular routine, staying warm, and preventing dryness while moisturizing the lungs are essential for health preservation.
Fluctuating Temperatures Lead to Rise in Respiratory and Digestive Illnesses
Case 1
Three-year-old Hao Hao (pseudonym) nestled in his mother's arms, coughing intermittently. His little face was flushed from fever.His mother explained that temperatures in Changsha reached 37°C on October 3rd and 4th. They had the air conditioner on at night, but the child kicked off the covers in the middle of the night and caught a chill.Another middle-aged man holding his child for treatment remarked, "This erratic weather is tough—not just for kids, but adults too." He admitted both he and his child had caught colds. While his symptoms eased after taking medication, his child's condition persisted, prompting the hospital visit.
【Health Tip】
Dr. Bao Fei explained that as late autumn sets in, large day-night temperature swings and dry weather have led to a noticeable increase in respiratory illnesses like coughs and flu. Such patients now account for half of pediatric outpatient visits. Many children also suffer from abdominal pain and diarrhea due to dietary issues or exposure to cold, while a smaller number present with infectious diseases like chickenpox and mumps.
Changsha's current climate still retains traces of summer heat, yet the saying "each autumn rain brings a chill" reflects its unpredictable shifts. Without proper care and attention, common respiratory conditions like allergic asthma, chronic bronchitis, and colds may worsen or emerge.Additionally, while the spleen and stomach functions are at their peak during this season, exposure to cold can disrupt the autonomic nervous system, disturbing the normal rhythms of gastrointestinal motility. This inevitably increases the burden on digestive functions, making gastrointestinal disorders more likely to occur or recur.First, maintain appropriate temperature and humidity levels. Mopping floors daily with a damp mop or placing a bowl of water indoors can increase humidity. Second, ventilate regularly by opening windows for 15 minutes each morning and evening. This ensures ample oxygen and fresh air while reducing the density of viruses and bacteria in indoor air, thereby lowering disease incidence. Drink adequate water and ensure fruits and vegetables remain fresh and hygienic.Adjust clothing promptly with weather changes. When experiencing a cold or fever, increase fluid intake and change sweaty clothes immediately. For diarrhea, most children recover within a week with dietary adjustments and oral medication. However, seek prompt medical attention if severe diarrhea causes dehydration or fever. Keep the abdomen warm, minimize cold, raw, or greasy foods, wash hands before meals and after using the restroom, and maintain good food hygiene.
Dry autumn air brings persistent coughs—lung care shouldn't wait until symptoms appear
Case Study 2
Mr. Chen, 50, has smoked for over 30 years, frequently consumes spicy foods, and often stays up late.Recently, he experienced a dry throat, dry cough with scant phlegm, chapped lips, constipation, and warmth in his palms and soles. He coughed daily before bed, had nightmares, and struggled to rest well. Hospital tests revealed no major issues.The cough was attributed to autumn dryness. Recommendations included reducing smoking, avoiding late nights, minimizing or eliminating spicy foods, and increasing intake of yin-nourishing, lung-moistening foods such as mulberry leaves, sand ginseng, solomon's seal, lily, ophiopogon, almonds, fritillary bulb, and snow pears.【Health Tip】
Dr. Cai Zhi explains that exogenous coughs are categorized into heat-type, cold-type, and dry-type, with corresponding cool-natured and warm-natured herbal formulas.Therefore, the general principle for cough treatment is: for wind-heat coughs, choose cooling formulas that clear heat and resolve phlegm; for wind-cold coughs, select warming formulas that dispel cold; for yin-deficiency dry coughs, use neutral formulas that nourish yin, moisten the lungs, and stop coughing.
Clinically, it's common to encounter patients who recover quickly from colds but struggle with persistent coughs. Cai Zhi explains that for most people, coughing is merely an uncomfortable symptom. From a TCM perspective, however, coughing represents the body's natural defense mechanism to expel pathogens outward. Treatment should not simply focus on suppressing the cough itself but rather address the underlying cause with appropriate medication.
For instance, coughs stemming from wind-heat colds typically present with fever, nasal congestion, a thick yellow tongue coating, and yellow phlegm. In such cases, appropriate heat-clearing and lung-fire-draining measures are needed, such as brewing teas with fish腥草 (Houttuynia cordata), mulberry bark (桑白皮), and astragalus (黄芪).For wind-cold colds, coughs may present as cold-type coughs, often accompanied by clear nasal discharge, a white tongue coating, white phlegm, and no significant sore throat. Herbal teas made from Perilla leaf, Apricot kernel, Schizonepeta, and Fangfeng can be used. Note that neither of these teas should be taken long-term. Additionally, avoid cold drinks, chilled foods, and greasy, rich foods.
Autumn Dryness Syndrome: Hydration Alone Is Insufficient—Symptom-Specific Management Is Required
Case Study 3
Ms. Yang, 58, has recently experienced persistent dry mouth and throat. Each morning, she feels tightness on her face while washing and has noticed peeling lips.With a history of coronary heart disease and hyperlipidemia, she has diligently followed medical advice over the years—taking medication regularly and maintaining healthy eating and drinking habits. Even when not thirsty, she consciously hydrates at set times. To combat autumn dryness, she intentionally increased her water intake. After about ten days, however, she began noticing unusual symptoms: stomach bloating, loss of appetite, occasional dizziness, and palpitations.She rushed to the hospital, where tests revealed no serious issues. Experts concluded that excessive water intake was likely the culprit.
【Health Tip】
Li Wenlong explains that autumn's dryness easily depletes bodily fluids. When fluids are depleted, dryness manifests as symptoms like dry mouth, lips, nose, throat, and tongue with little saliva, constipation, and dry or even cracked skin.The lungs thrive on moisture and abhor dryness. When lung function is compromised, a series of autumn dryness syndromes emerge, including nasal and pharyngeal dryness, hoarseness, dry cough with scant phlegm, thirst, and constipation. "Many people now advocate drinking more water to boost metabolism. While increased water intake can prevent dryness, reduce blood viscosity, and guard against vascular thrombosis and stroke, the key lies in adopting scientifically sound hydration practices,"Li Wenlong explains that improper methods or excessive water intake may overburden the heart and kidneys, ultimately harming health.
Autumn dryness has multiple causes. For those experiencing "autumn dryness depleting body fluids," generally drinking more water and consuming moisturizing foods like sesame seeds, honey, white fungus, and leafy greens—along with water-rich fruits such as apples, grapes, and bananas—can effectively nourish yin and alleviate dryness.However, dry coughs cannot be resolved solely by drinking water or consuming yin-nourishing foods. Furthermore, excessive autumn dryness can impair liver qi, leading to emotional fluctuations, endocrine disorders, menstrual irregularities, palpitations, and insomnia. In such cases, addressing dryness must be complemented by liver qi regulation and depression relief.Moreover, the cool dryness inherent in autumn can impede qi circulation. Patients may experience chest tightness with frequent sighing, rib-side distension and pain, belching, melancholy, abdominal pain or diarrhea during emotional fluctuations, and women may develop breast tenderness or even dysmenorrhea. In such cases, moisturizing alone is insufficient; targeted treatment is needed to restore smooth qi flow.
Preventing Cardiovascular Diseases: Stay Warm and Maintain a Positive Mindset
Case 4
Amid recent erratic temperature swings, 74-year-old Mr. Tao caught a chill, developing chest tightness and shortness of breath. Hospitalized with a diagnosis of coronary heart disease, his condition improved promptly through oxygen therapy and targeted supportive care.
【Health Tip】
"Autumn brings fluctuating temperatures and significant day-night differences. Elderly individuals with weaker immunity struggle to adapt to sudden climate shifts, especially those with preexisting cardiovascular or cerebrovascular conditions, which can easily trigger relapses."" Cai Zhi explained that autumn's extreme morning-evening temperature swings and erratic weather allow cold pathogens to exploit vulnerabilities and cause illness. While the saying "bundle up in spring, endure the chill in autumn" persists, individuals should dress according to their personal cold tolerance and health status. The elderly, children, and those with underlying conditions should avoid autumn exposure. Citizens are advised to carry outerwear when going out to adapt to weather changes.