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Everyone thinks napping is a normal thing. Who would have thought that on such an ordinary afternoon, a seemingly ordinary nap would take the life of a 68-year-old man. Doesn't that sound chilling? But this is a recent tragedy.
That poor old man is the 68-year-old Mr. Wang. After retiring, he lived such a leisurely life, following his daily routine: getting up early to do morning exercises, taking a walk in the morning, and taking a nap for more than an hour after lunch. But on that sunny day, Mr. Wang took a nap as usual, and never woke up when the sun was setting in the west. The children knocked on the door and no one answered, and finally broke down the door and saw the old man pass away so quietly, looking very peaceful.
It is really shocking and self-reproachful for a seemingly carefree old man to pass away so peacefully. As geriatric doctors, we emphasize the importance of controlling the three highs to our patients, but we do neglect to educate and guide the seemingly inconsequential little thing of napping. Afterwards, I reflected deeply and resolved to bring this painful lesson to more people.
Through research and research, I found that napping is small, but it has a great impact on health, especially for middle-aged and elderly people. As we all know, as we age, our physical strength and function will gradually decline. Many elderly friends are prone to sleepiness in the afternoon, and if they are not paid attention to and done in the right way, there is a risk of accidents. I think when I was younger, I used to take a nap on the sofa in the consultation room, and I never cared about the sleeping position. It wasn't until a colleague inadvertently took a funny photo of sleeping on my stomach that I suddenly realized: it turned out that the sleeping position I had been sleeping in was wrong!
Medical studies have confirmed that sleeping on your stomach can hinder breathing, reduce the body's oxygen supply, and deprive the brain of oxygen. What's more, long-term this can also easily cause cervical and lumbar spine problems. The correct sleeping position should be on your back or side. For middle-aged and elderly people, it is especially important to maintain an open airway. Some elderly friends may say, "I slept soundly, how could I be starved of oxygen?" Don't be blinded by superficial appearances, in fact, the inherent risks are not small at all.
In addition to the sleeping position, clothing is also a key factor. Middle-aged and elderly people often dress too bloated at home, and cover too many quilts when taking a nap, so that the body's qi and blood can easily be unable to circulate, and the risk of hypoxia suffocation increases. Proper room temperature, ventilation and comfort are key.
Another point, safety comes first, and you must not take a nap alone. If there is an accident when you take a nap alone, no one will find it and you can't help it in time, and the risk can be imagined. Therefore, it is safer to be accompanied by a family member or to take a break in a public place.
In addition, it should be reminded that the nap time should not be too long. Most doctors recommend 20-30 minutes is best. If it is too long, it will make people feel refreshed, it will be difficult to sleep at night, and it will destroy the regular work and rest, which will undoubtedly do all kinds of harm to health.
Through this painful lesson, I hope that everyone can learn from it and cherish life. The smallest things in life should not be taken lightly, because they are the bits and pieces that make up our lives. Respect for life, stay away from accidents, and live a long and healthy life are the pursuits of life. Remember the "four don'ts": don't sleep on your stomach, don't cover too many quilts, don't be alone, and sleep soon, I hope everyone can live a long and healthy life.
Speaking of which, I have a deep understanding. As doctors, our duty is not only to diagnose and treat patients, but more importantly, to spread the concept of health, so that people can establish a sense of reverence for life from the little things in life. Mrs. Wang was devastated by the death of her husband, and her children blamed themselves. Looking at this white-haired old couple sending black-haired people, I secretly resolved that I must bring this bloody lesson to more people.
I hope everyone can learn from this, napping is just a small part of life, but the impact on health is not small. Only by raising awareness and mastering the correct way to nap can we avoid accidents and protect lives. Respecting life, staying away from accidents, and living a long and healthy life are our common pursuit of life. Let's work together to build a healthy, civilized and safe lifestyle for ourselves and our families, and build a better life with bit by bit.
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