Introduction: In a report published by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), we learned an astonishing fact that the incidence of cerebral infarction in China has reached an astonishing 40%, ranking first in the world.
In contrast, the incidence of cerebral infarction in the United States, although it has also increased, is still at a low level globally, and it is worth noting that although the average age of onset of cerebral infarction in Chinese men and women is nearly 10 years earlier than that in the United States, even taking this factor into account, the incidence of cerebral infarction in China still far exceeds that of the United States.
Cerebral infarction is a serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, its onset is often sudden, if the rescue is not timely, it may pose a serious threat to life, even if the rescue is timely, it may also leave serious sequelae due to brain tissue damage.
A variety of factors may induce cerebral infarction, the most common of which is obesity, however, although the United States ranks first in the world in obesity, from 1962 to 2010, its obesity rate soared from 13% to 35.7%, and the number of obese people increased from 100,000 to 400,000, but even so, the incidence of cerebral infarction has shown a continuous downward trend compared with China.
So why is the rate of cerebral infarction in Americans, who are fatter than us, declining? There are many factors involved.
What is a cerebral infarction?
Cerebral infarction, also known as ischemic stroke, is a necrotic and softening lesion that occurs due to the imbalance of blood supply to the brain, resulting in ischemia and hypoxia of brain tissue.
This disease is usually caused by a blockage in the arteries that supply blood to the brain, leaving the brain without enough oxygen and nutrients, leading to the death of brain cells.
Are cerebral infarction and stroke the same thing?
Cerebral infarction and stroke have some things in common, but they are not exactly the same thing.
Cerebral infarction and stroke are both cerebrovascular diseases, and both can be caused by blocked or ruptured blood vessels, however, the causes and mechanisms of their occurrence are slightly different.
Cerebral infarction is usually caused by a blockage of a blood vessel in the brain, preventing blood flow to an area of the brain, causing the death of brain cells in that area, while a stroke is caused by a rupture of a blood vessel in the brain, causing blood to flow into the brain and causing inflammation and brain damage.
There are 5 factors that induce cerebral infarction, and it should be paid attention to
hypertension
Hypertension is one of the main risk factors for cerebral infarction, and long-term hypertension can damage the walls of cerebral blood vessels, increasing the risk of blood vessel rupture and thrombosis.
Hyperlipidemia
Hyperlipidemia refers to high levels of lipids such as cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, which can lead to hardening of the blood vessel wall and increase the risk of thrombosis.
diabetes
Diabetes damages vascular endothelial cells, leading to arteriosclerosis and thrombosis, and people with diabetes are at higher risk of cerebral infarction.
smoking
The chemicals in tobacco can damage the endothelium of blood vessels, increasing the risk of thrombosis, and smokers have a higher risk of cerebral infarction than non-smokers.
Heart disease and cardiovascular disease
Heart disease and cardiovascular diseases such as valvular heart disease, irregular heartbeat, heart failure, etc., increase the risk of thrombosis and cerebral infarction.
Why are there many fat people in the United States, but the rate of cerebral infarction is low?
Obesity is one of the important risk factors for cerebral infarction, because fat accumulation on the blood vessel wall will lead to narrowing of blood vessels, thereby increasing the risk of cerebral infarction.
1. The diet of Americans is different from that of Asians
Americans' diet is rich in high-fat, high-calorie foods, such as burgers, fried chicken, fries, etc., which can lead to problems such as obesity and high blood pressure.
However, compared with Asians, Americans consume relatively little fiber and fruits, which can promote intestinal peristalsis, lower blood pressure, and prevent cerebral infarction.
2. Americans have better exercise Xi
Americans generally like sports, and gyms, swimming pools and other sports venues are also more popular, moderate exercise can promote blood circulation, enhance cardiopulmonary function, reduce blood pressure and blood lipids, thereby reducing the risk of cerebral infarction.
In addition, the low incidence of cerebral infarction in Americans is also related to "1 more and 1 less", which is worth learning from and learning Xi:
Doctor: "1 more and 1 less" is worth learning from and learning Xi
"1 more" - excessive folic acid intake
Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin, and its importance to the human body is self-evident, but unfortunately, our body cannot synthesize this vitamin on its own, it can only be obtained through the intake of external foods.
Folic acid plays multiple roles in the human body, it is involved in the metabolic process of amino acids, helps the body form hemoglobin, and is an indispensable component of the body's use of sugar and amino acids.
Although folic acid itself is not directly used in the treatment of cerebral infarction, it can indeed reduce blood homocysteine levels, thereby effectively preventing cerebral infarction.
Taking Americans as an example, they attach more importance to folic acid, so the incidence of cerebral infarction is relatively low, which undoubtedly reminds us that in daily life, we should pay more attention to the intake of folic acid to ensure that the body receives sufficient folic acid supplementation.
After all, folic acid plays an important role in the prevention of diseases such as macrocytic anemia, fetal malformations and heart defects, and at the same time, lowering blood homocysteine levels can also help prevent cerebral infarction and protect our health.
"1 less" - less salt
Excessive salt intake can lead to an increased risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure is one of the main causes of cerebral infarction, however, Americans consume relatively little salt in their daily diet, which may be one of the reasons for their lower rate of cerebral infarction.
In addition, Americans have more high-fat, high-sugar foods in their dietary Xi, which can easily lead to obesity and cardiovascular disease, however, because Americans consume less salt, this helps reduce blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular disease, thereby reducing the occurrence of cerebral infarction.
Therefore, we should pay attention to a healthy diet and maintain a proper and reasonable diet, which will help enhance the health of blood vessels and reduce the risk of cerebral infarction.
Doctor reminds: Folic acid supplementation to prevent cerebral infarction is not suitable for everyone
Doctors warn that folic acid supplementation is not suitable for everyone.
Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, and for pregnant and breastfeeding women, supplementing with moderate amounts of folic acid can reduce the risk of fetal neural tube defects, but for other populations, excessive intake of folic acid may have side effects.
Secondly, the metabolism of folic acid in the body needs to go through a series of complex enzymatic reactions, and if the corresponding enzymes are lacking in the body, it may lead to folic acid metabolism disorders, which in turn leads to a series of health problems.
Therefore, folic acid supplementation may not be appropriate for certain populations, such as those with genetic or chronic medical conditions.
Therefore, doctors recommend that before supplementing folic acid, it is best to consult a professional doctor or dietitian, and at the same time, pay attention to controlling the intake of folic acid, maintain a balanced and varied diet, and avoid excessive intake.
If there are 5 precursors in the body, nine times out of ten you are targeted by "cerebral infarction", please seek medical attention as soon as possible
Sudden onset of headache: A sudden, severe headache that lasts for a long time may be a sign of a cerebral infarction.
Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the face or limb: Sudden numbness or weakness in half of the face, arms or legs may be a symptom of a cerebral infarction.
Sudden blurring or loss of vision: Sudden onset of blurred vision, loss of visual field, or complete loss of vision may be a symptom of a cerebral infarction.
Sudden onset of dizziness or loss of balance: Sudden onset of dizziness, loss of balance, unsteady gait, or inability to control body posture may be a sign of a cerebral infarction.
Sudden, severe dizziness or coma: Sudden, severe dizziness, loss of consciousness, or coma may be a sign of cerebral infarction.
To prevent cerebral infarction, you can often eat 4 kinds of "natural folic acid" to dredge blood vessels and benefit health
spinach
Spinach is a vegetable rich in folic acid, which contains about 400 micrograms of folic acid per 100 grams of spinach, folic acid helps to reduce homocysteine levels in the blood, thereby reducing the risk of cerebral infarction.
legume
Legumes such as soybeans and black beans are also rich in folic acid. Soybeans contain about 130 micrograms of folic acid per 100 grams, while black beans contain about 100 micrograms.
Folic acid in legumes helps to lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of blood clots, and it is recommended to consume moderate amounts of legumes such as tofu, soy milk, etc. every day.
nut
Nuts such as almonds and walnuts are also rich in folic acid, containing about 280 micrograms of folic acid per 100 grams of almonds, while walnuts contain about 100 micrograms.
The folic acid in nuts helps to reduce blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, keep blood vessels open, and it is recommended to consume a moderate amount of nuts every day, such as almonds, walnuts, etc.
Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit also contain a certain amount of folic acid, which contains about 40 micrograms of folic acid per 100 grams of oranges, while grapefruit contains about 30 micrograms.
The folic acid in citrus fruits helps lower homocysteine levels in the blood, reducing the risk of blood clots.