Autumn Chills Have Their Rules — Cooling Down in Autumn Requires Caution
In early autumn, residual summer heat persists, temperatures remain high, so "cooling down" is harmless and there’s no need to rush to add clothes. In mid-autumn, temperatures begin to drop, though cool, not severely cold—this is the optimal period for "autumn cooling," especially for young adults. Wear clothes with controlled tightness, consciously allowing the body to "experience a chill" to avoid overheating and sweating, which deplete yin and qi. In late autumn, climate changes significantly, with increased day-night temperature differences. Especially during the transition from autumn to winter, strong cold fronts often arrive, causing sudden drops in temperature. At this time, persistently insisting on "autumn cooling" would be counterproductive.
Due to geographical differences, southern and northern China experience varying climates. Generally, southern regions see cooler weather later, with modest daily temperature variations—sometimes remaining mild even into winter—so there’s no need to add clothes quickly, and "autumn cooling" can be extended appropriately. Northern regions differ: cold can arrive suddenly, with large daytime temperature swings. Thus, blindly "cooling down" is unwise, risking exposure to wind-cold.
From a human perspective, children are delicate in yin and yang, still growing and developing, with poor self-regulation. Cold stimulation quickly triggers adverse reactions, potentially causing acute bronchitis, pneumonia, and other illnesses. Elderly people have depleted yin and yang, reduced overall resistance, and weakened cold tolerance. Cold stimulation can trigger bronchial and vascular spasms, easily causing chronic bronchitis or asthma to recur, and even triggering angina or myocardial infarction in some coronary heart disease patients, or stroke in hypertensive individuals. Therefore, children and elderly people must be extremely cautious with "autumn cooling."