Do you feel like you're becoming unresponsive and unable to remember? Many aunts and uncles feel that this is a natural sign of age.
But it's also possible that the capillaries in the brain are diseased!
In winter, the cold weather and the increase in blood pressure are very unfriendly to the capillaries of the brain! So how can we control the pressure and protect the cerebral blood vessels in winter?
Let's follow Director Fu Yu of the Department of Neurology of Peking University Third Hospital to take a look!
01
Capillary lesions of the brain
Symptoms are insidious and difficult to detect
Do you know how thin the thinnest blood vessels in the brain are?
The diameter is only 1/6 of a human hair! You can only see it under a microscope! But despite their small size, they play a very important role!
Every nerve cell in the brain depends on these tiny blood vessels for nourishment.
Once the capillaries are damaged, the impact on the body may seem small, but the cumulative effect is very serious.
Director Fu said that cerebral capillary lesions (cerebral microcirculation disorders) can be divided into two conditions: hemorrhage and obstruction.
1. Bleeding
In general, the bleeding site is not fixed, and there may be multiple bleeding, resulting in local neuronal involvement.
Symptoms are subtle and are not easy to detect with CT MRI and other tests.
When there are more bleeding spots in small blood vessels, it may cause heavy bleeding!
2. Obstruction
A medical diagnosis of white matter demyelinating lesions suggests cerebral microcirculation ischemia.
If the capillaries are blocked for a long time, patients will experience symptoms similar to those of Alzheimer's disease, such as memory loss and unresponsiveness.
Experts remind: Lesions of cerebral capillaries occur early, possibly in their 40s.
Its symptoms are relatively insidious, and some patients may have transient inability to see, numbness of limbs, weakness, dizziness, etc.
It has an impact on later intelligence, which will accelerate aging and affect people's executive function and thinking and reaction ability.
And it and Alzheimer's disease will also affect each other, foreign studies have found that 40% of Alzheimer's patients, combined with cerebral small vessel disease.
If you feel that your legs and feet are inflexible and slow to react, be aware that there may be a problem with the capillaries in your brain.
02
Scientific pressure control in winter
Protects blood vessels in the brain
Director Fu said that in winter, when it is cold, blood vessels will constrict, and blood pressure will rise, which will more easily induce cerebral capillary bleeding.
And relevant data show that increased blood pressure in winter will increase cardiovascular mortality. Controlled high blood pressure can reduce stroke by 47%.
So in winter, how can we control stress scientifically?
(1) Avoid going out in the morning and evening
In winter, the temperature is low in the morning and evening, so it is not recommended for uncles and aunts to go out early in the morning or late to exercise, and it is recommended to go out almost noon and when it is a little warmer.
(2) Reduce the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor
The regulatory function of vasoconstriction and relaxation in the elderly will decline, and if the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor is large in winter, it is easy to induce acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.
It is recommended to open the window for ventilation before going out to reduce the indoor temperature to avoid excessive temperature difference and irritation of blood vessels when returning from outside.
(3) Blood pressure monitoring
Under normal circumstances, it is recommended to control blood pressure within 130/80mmHg.
For example, people in their fifties and sixties who do not have severe atherosclerosis have lower blood pressure control.
If you are an elderly patient in your eighties or nineties, or a patient diagnosed with more than 50% stenosis of the intracranial blood vessels or carotid arteries, the blood pressure can be slightly higher.
Director Fu recommends measuring blood pressure four times a day, that is, after getting up in the morning, on an empty stomach, once before taking medicine, once at 10 a.m., once at 4 or 5 p.m., and again before going to bed.
If the blood pressure fluctuates greatly, you need to seek medical attention in time to adjust the medication, and do not stop or change the medication without authorization.
(4) Avoid wearing clothes with collars that are too high or too tight
The carotid sinus in the human neck can regulate blood pressure and heart rate.
Some people have sensitive carotid sinuses, and when wearing clothes with a collar that is too high or too tight, it may be irritated, causing a sharp drop in blood pressure, heart rate, and even syncope.
03
Do two things well
Removing "junk" from the brain
1. Sleep regularly
Director Fu emphasized that by developing regular sleep, you can easily control pressure and protect the blood vessels of the brain!
Because deep sleep helps stabilize blood pressure, it can also help us "clean up" the "garbage" produced by the brain during the day and protect the blood vessels of the brain.
Relevant data show that Xi such as irregular sleep onset, unstable sleep duration, and catching up sleep after staying up late will accelerate aging!
Experts recommend getting enough sleep first, 6-8 hours for young people and at least 5-6 hours for older people.
Secondly, don't sleep too long during the day, otherwise it is easy to affect the sleep at night, if you want to take a nap, it is recommended to rest for half an hour to an hour or so.
If you have long-term problems with waking up early and difficulty falling asleep, you must go to the hospital as soon as possible.
2. Vitamin supplementation
Experts also recommend supplementing vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and folic acid for middle-aged and elderly people!
Supplementing these three nutrients can reduce homocysteine levels, prevent arteriosclerosis from aggravating, protect blood vessels, and nourish the brain!
Vitamin B12 is mainly found in animal foods, such as pork, mutton, beef, as well as animal offal, and various eggs;
Vitamin B6 is found in animal and plant foods, such as beef, fish, chicken, wheat, corn, carrots, etc.;
Folic acid is mainly found in green vegetables such as leeks, spinach, celery, as well as commonly eaten fruits such as oranges, strawberries, and grapes. In addition, eggs and animal offal also contain a certain amount of folic acid.