As the weather gets colder, how can patients with high blood pressure prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease attacks?
A gust of cold air is coming from north to south. Most areas across the country have experienced significant cooling, and many places seem to have entered winter overnight. At this time of year, it is also the busiest time for the cardiology and neurology departments in the hospital, as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases occur more frequently due to weather changes.
The onset of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases is basically inseparable from one underlying disease, which is hypertension. October 8th is National Hypertension Day. Regarding how patients with hypertension can prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease attacks in an environment where the temperature drops suddenly, doctors have summarized these 4 points of experience to share with you.
On National Hypertension Day, 4 points of experience shared by doctors
1. Keep warm
Cold air always makes people unprepared, and many people are also affected by it. And got a cold. Hypertensive patients, especially elderly hypertensive patients, have poorer blood vessel elasticity, increased fragility, and slower blood fluidity, so their tolerance to changes in blood pressure is also weakened.
Once the body is stimulated by cold at this time, it will cause strong contraction or rupture of blood vessels, resulting in insufficient blood supply to the heart, brain and other important organs, inducing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as acute myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage. occur.
Therefore, elderly patients with hypertension are advised to always pay attention to the weather forecast, add clothes in time when the temperature drops, and pay attention to keeping warm.
2. Take medication on time
High blood pressure is a chronic disease that requires long-term medication. Drugs are mainly relied on to control blood pressure within the normal range, so as to effectively avoid cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
In the cold autumn and winter, patients with high blood pressure should take medicine on time to avoid fluctuations in blood pressure. At the same time, they should also pay attention to the control of blood lipids and blood sugar. Patients with indications can also take it in combination The antiplatelet drug aspirin prevents the risk of blood vessel blockage caused by platelet aggregation.
3. Maintain a healthy lifestyle
Many people think that autumn and winter are suitable for supplements, so they eat and drink as much as they want. This idea is extremely wrong. If diet is not controlled at this time, it will easily cause blood lipids and blood sugar to rise, increase blood viscosity, and more easily induce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Friends with high blood pressure are reminded that if they can eat enough vegetables, fruits, and low-fat milk in their diet to maintain adequate intake of potassium, magnesium, calcium, etc., they should also try to reduce the amount of fat in their diet, especially animals rich in saturated fatty acids. Sexual oils can effectively control blood pressure.
Therefore, patients with hypertension should adhere to a low-fat, low-sugar and low-salt diet, eat more fruits and vegetables, quit smoking and drinking, exercise regularly, control their weight, avoid staying up late, and keep their mood comfortable. Another reminder is that elderly patients with hypertension should not be too hasty when getting up in the morning, because sudden changes in body position can also cause blood pressure fluctuations and induce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It is recommended to lie in bed for 1-2 minutes after waking up in the morning. Then get up slowly.
4. Monitor blood pressure and review regularly
To achieve stable blood pressure control and prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, blood pressure monitoring is essential. In order to achieve long-term blood pressure control, my country's guidelines encourage patients with hypertension to participate in self-management and carry out home blood pressure monitoring.
For those whose blood pressure does not meet the standard, it is recommended to measure blood pressure once a day in the morning and evening, 2-3 times each time, for 7 consecutive days, and record the average blood pressure in the next 6 days for reference by the doctor during follow-up visits. . Those whose blood pressure reaches the standard can have their blood pressure measured one day a week. If they feel uncomfortable, they can measure their blood pressure at any time.
At the same time, patients with hypertension should undergo a physical examination at least once a year, and review blood sugar, blood lipids, liver and kidney function, coagulation function and other indicators, and intervene early if abnormalities are found.
In short, hypertension requires long-term and comprehensive management. It not only requires taking antihypertensive drugs and standard treatment, but also exercising, eating, and maintaining a regular schedule are equally important. Winter is waving to us not far away. Patients with hypertension should take preventive measures to prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.