Respiratory disease

This issue features Associate Professor Yu Huiyong from the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, who shares what dietary restrictions to observe after contracting a respiratory illness in winter. After catching a respiratory disease in winter, patients often experience symptoms such as fever, cough, and sore throat. Besides prompt medical treatment, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) emphasizes certain dietary restrictions to avoid exacerbating the condition. According to Yu Huiyong, first and foremost, spicy foods should be avoided, including chili peppers, leeks, and raw garlic. These can intensify throat pain and worsen coughing. Secondly, greasy and heat-inducing foods like fried dough sticks, fried peanuts, and sunflower seeds should be avoided as they may exacerbate throat pain and coughing. Thirdly, cold and raw foods, such as cold drinks straight from the fridge, unboiled mineral water, and watermelon, should be avoided. When patients have a fever, their digestive functions are weakened, and consuming these cold, cooling foods may cause diarrhea and aggravate coughing. Additionally, beef, mutton, and seafood should be avoided. According to TCM, these are considered “trigger foods” that might worsen fevers and increase coughing and phlegm production. Regarding children infected with respiratory diseases,…