In recent years, with the acceleration of the pace of life and the increase of work pressure, the incidence of hypertension has been increasing year by year, and has become an important public health problem facing the mainland.
According to statistics, the number of hypertension patients in the mainland has exceeded the 300 million mark, which means that nearly 3 out of every 10 people have hypertension. This figure is staggering, and it reveals a fact that cannot be ignored: the prevention and treatment of hypertension in the mainland is already imminent.
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The dangers of high blood pressure should not be underestimated. Not only can it cause symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, heart palpitations, but it also increases the risk of serious diseases such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, etc. These diseases not only affect the physical health of patients, but also bring a huge financial burden to families and society. Therefore, we must attach great importance to the prevention and treatment of hypertension and take effective measures.
Potassium, a nutrient element, is more of a lifesaver for people with high blood pressure. Potassium, like a guardian, guards our cardiovascular system against the invasion of high blood pressure.
Why does taking blood pressure medication cause low blood potassium?
Antihypertensive drugs are commonly used to treat high blood pressure, however, long-term use of antihypertensive drugs may lead to the appearance of hypokalemia. It turns out that the mechanism of action of antihypertensive drugs is mainly to lower blood pressure by dilating blood vessels, reducing the burden on the heart, and reducing the contractility of the heart. However, long-term use of antihypertensive drugs may lead to homeostatic imbalances in the body's internal environment, which can lead to a series of adverse effects.
Hypokalemia is one of the common adverse effects of antihypertensive drugs. When the human body ingests too much antihypertensive drugs, it will cause the potassium ions in the body to be excreted normally, causing the blood potassium level to drop, which in turn causes symptoms such as muscle weakness and arrhythmia. At the same time, some antihypertensive drugs can also affect the function of the kidneys, so that the kidneys' ability to excrete potassium ions is reduced, further aggravating the symptoms of hypokalemia.
In addition, some specific types of antihypertensive drugs, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) and angiotensin receptor antagonists (ARBs), may also contribute to the development of hypokalemia. These drugs dilate blood vessels while also inhibiting the secretion of aldosterone, an important hormone in the kidneys that promotes the excretion of potassium. Therefore, long-term use of ACE inhibitors and ARBs may also trigger symptoms of hypokalemia.
Is high blood pressure most afraid of potassium deficiency?
People with high blood pressure often have high blood pressure due to concerns about consuming too much salt, and potassium is an important component of salt and plays an important role in regulating blood pressure. Therefore, patients with high blood pressure are most likely to be deficient in potassium.
Potassium plays a vital role in the body, helping to regulate the function of the heart and blood vessels and maintain normal blood pressure levels. When the body is deficient in potassium, the regulatory function of the heart and blood vessels is affected, resulting in an increase in blood pressure. At the same time, potassium deficiency can also affect the excretory function of the kidneys, so that excessive sodium ions are retained in the body, further aggravating the increase in blood pressure.
Therefore, people with high blood pressure should be mindful of their dietary potassium intake. Potassium-rich foods include bananas, potatoes, mushrooms, kelp, etc. At the same time, increasing the amount of exercise and maintaining a good mood can also help promote the balance of potassium in the body.
For people with high blood pressure, if potassium deficiency is more severe, you can take some potassium-containing medications as prescribed. However, it is important to consult a doctor before taking the drug to avoid interacting with other drugs or causing adverse reactions.
6 signs that you are potassium deficient
1. Muscle weakness: Potassium is an important element for maintaining the normal function of muscles, and muscles may feel weak or fatigued when potassium is deficient.
2. Irregular heartbeat: Potassium is essential for the normal function of the heart, and symptoms such as irregular heartbeat and palpitations may occur when potassium is deficient.
3. Digestive problems: Potassium deficiency may affect intestinal peristalsis, leading to digestive problems such as constipation and diarrhea.
4. Dizziness: Insufficient potassium levels can lead to dizziness, dizziness, and even fainting.
5. Emotional instability: Potassium deficiency may affect mood, making people prone to anxiety, irritability, etc.
6. Kidney problems: Long-term potassium deficiency may cause damage to the kidneys, leading to kidney insufficiency.
If you find that you have the above symptoms, you should seek medical attention in time for early detection and treatment of potassium deficiency, and at the same time, in daily life, you can supplement enough potassium through diet, potassium-rich foods include bananas, potatoes, mushrooms, kelp, etc. In addition, maintaining adequate water intake can also help maintain normal potassium levels.
Reminder: 3 types of food can help make up
Potassium is one of the essential trace elements in the human body and is essential for maintaining the normal physiological functions of the body. However, modern dietary Xi often lead to insufficient potassium intake, so special attention needs to be paid to potassium supplementation. The following three types of foods are excellent sources of potassium supplementation, and we should increase the intake of potassium in our daily diet.
First of all, vegetables are a great source of potassium. Among them, green leafy vegetables such as spinach, amaranth, and coriander are rich in potassium, while legumes such as soybean sprouts and mung bean sprouts are also high in potassium. These vegetables are not only rich in potassium, but also rich in vitamins and dietary fiber, which help maintain good health.
Secondly, fruits are also an excellent choice for potassium supplementation. Bananas, citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruits, and berry fruits such as strawberries and blueberries are rich in potassium. In addition, fruits such as kiwi and persimmon are also good sources of potassium. These fruits are delicious and not only satisfy the taste needs, but also provide the body with enough potassium.
Finally, nuts are also a good choice for potassium supplementation. For example, cashews, almonds, walnuts and other nuts are high in potassium, and these nuts are also rich in healthy unsaturated fatty acids and protein, which can help maintain heart health and increase satiety.