In recent years, the number of hypertensive patients in the mainland has increased year by year, and it has also shown a trend of rejuvenation, and many young people after the 90s have suffered from hypertension.
As one of the chronic diseases that threaten human health, hypertension is extremely harmful, and there are many complications, if not controlled in time and effectively, it is likely to induce many cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications, threatening physical health and even life safety.
Some people say that high blood pressure is most afraid of potassium deficiency, is this statement reliable? How should people who take antihypertensive drugs for a long time supplement potassium? Listen to the doctor's answer today.
First, high blood pressure is most afraid of potassium deficiency?
Potassium is one of the important substances to maintain the stability of the human endocrine, which can help maintain the normal metabolism of cells, maintain the osmotic pressure and acid-base balance inside and outside the cell, and also maintain the stress capacity of the nervous system, as well as improve the contractility and coordination of the myocardium.
If potassium levels in the body are too low, it may cause abnormal metabolic activity in many organs such as the heart, muscle, gastrointestinal tract and nerves, of which muscle and heart damage is the most obvious.
When potassium deficiency is mild, patients may experience decreased appetite, muscle aches, irregular heart rhythms, numbness and trembling of hands and feet, and so on. When potassium deficiency worsens, patients may even experience symptoms such as sudden drop in blood pressure, paralysis, confusion, and shock.
The reason why there is a saying that "hypertension is most afraid of potassium deficiency" is because commonly used antihypertensive drugs have a diuretic effect, which will make more potassium ions excreted through the urine, and long-term use will lead to a large loss of potassium ions in the body, thereby inducing hypokalemia.
Therefore, patients with long-term antihypertensive drugs with hypertension must develop good habits of regular monitoring, not only pay attention to the level of blood pressure, but also pay attention to the potassium level in the body, once they find that their potassium level is too low (the blood potassium reference value of normal adults is 3.6 to 5.2 moles / liter), it is necessary to give feedback to the attending doctor in time in order to take corresponding measures to control the development of the disease.
Second, people who take antihypertensive drugs for a long time may wish to eat more than 4 kinds of high-potassium foods
Since antihypertensive drugs can cause the loss of potassium ions in the body, patients with hypertension should appropriately supplement potassium in their daily diet.
1. Fish
Fish is very low in fat and is also very rich in protein, vitamins and minerals such as potassium. Therefore, patients with hypertension with hypokalemia can usually eat a little more fish, but when cooking fish, we must also pay attention to choosing steaming or stewing as much as possible to reduce frying.
2. Blood products
Animal blood products include pig blood, duck blood, chicken blood, etc., which are rich in iron, iodine and potassium, which can not only effectively prevent the occurrence of iron deficiency anemia, but also help stabilize blood pressure and improve the body's resistance and immunity.
But here also need to remind everyone that animal blood products are high cholesterol foods, if you eat too much may lead to increased blood lipid levels, it is recommended that patients with three highs do not eat more than 200 grams of animal blood products per day.
3. Soy products
Soybeans are high potassium food, every 100 grams of soybeans contain 1503 mg of potassium, and soybeans processed into soy products, including soy milk, soybean skin, tofu, bean bubbles, dried tofu, etc. are ideal foods for potassium supplementation, which can help prevent the occurrence of hypokalemia.
4. Spinach
Spinach is also rich in dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, which can not only improve the digestion and peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract, alleviate constipation, but also effectively prevent hypokalemia, promote blood circulation, prevent thrombosis and hardening of the arteries.
Long-term use of antihypertensive drugs may lead to excessive loss of potassium in the body, so patients with hypertension should pay attention to appropriate potassium supplementation in their daily diet, may wish to eat more fish, blood products, soy products, spinach these foods, but also pay attention to adhere to exercise, more water, in order to effectively control the further development of the disease.