Many people with high blood pressure find that their blood pressure is particularly easy to rise in winter. Why is that?
In this expert lecture, Dr. Chunyu specially invited Chang Bingxi, deputy chief physician of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, to bring you a special lecture - precautions for hypertension in winter:
The merciless killer of humanity - high blood pressure
According to a study published in The Lancet, the number of adults aged 30-79 with hypertension has increased from 650 million to 1.28 billion over the past 30 years, with more than 700 million of them unaware of their high blood pressure. Director Chang also introduced in the live broadcast that according to a large number of clinical data, about 50% of young adults with hypertension have no symptoms, or occasionally have atypical symptoms such as dizziness and headache. Therefore, it is especially important to monitor blood pressure in daily life.
Director Chang focused on the way to measure blood pressure at home in the live broadcast:
Relax yourself with your feet flat and sit with your back on your back and sit quietly for 5 minutes, palms facing up. Start measuring blood pressure again;
The ideal height difference between a table and a chair is 25-30cm;
The center of the cuff is kept at the same height as the heart;
How to choose a family blood pressure monitor? Director Chang also gave an answer in the live broadcast:
1. The first choice is electronic sphygmomanometer (Omron)
2. Mercury cuff sphygmomanometer (good protection)
In order to ensure the accuracy of blood pressure measurement, the following should be paid attention to when measuring:
- When measuring blood pressure, care should be taken to measure the same arm at the same time every day;
- Before the measurement, you should sit quietly for 5 minutes to keep your mind relaxed;
- It is not advisable to drink coffee and strong tea before the measurement, and at the same time to defecate;
- In order to ensure the accuracy of the measurement, it is recommended to measure 2~3 times each time, wait for 2 minutes after one measurement and then measure the next time, and when the blood pressure is well controlled, measure at least one day a week;
- Ensure that the measurement environment is quiet and comfortable;
- Older people and patients with diabetes are prone to orthostatic hypotension, and it is recommended to measure blood pressure in the lying or standing position.
Why does blood pressure rise in winter
In the live broadcast, Director Chang explained why blood pressure rises in winter: this is because blood pressure levels change with the seasons.
In winter, when the temperature drops, the blood pressure increases by an average of 1.3 mmHg for every 1 degree drop in temperature, which is due to the increase in oxygen consumption in the human body, in order to maintain body temperature, the heart rate will change, the systolic function of the heart will be enhanced, and the blood pressure will increase by stimulating the constriction of blood vessels in the body, which will increase the resistance of blood vessels. On the other hand, low temperatures and less sweating increase blood flow, while people eat excessive carbohydrates, fats and salts, which increase water intake, leading to increased blood volume, which in turn increases blood pressure.
In addition to the increase in blood pressure in winter, blood pressure has the following characteristics:
Blood pressure fluctuates widely and is unstable.
The differential pressure increases, the high pressure increases, and the low pressure decreases;
increased vascular resistance, fragility, and viscosity;
Prone to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases: cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, angina, myocardial infarction
Tips for stabilizing blood pressure in winter:
- Keep exercising and managing your weight:
- It is best to exercise after the sun rises in the early morning and before sunset in the evening;
- 30-60 minutes per exercise;
- Do a pre-workout before going out (indoor activity)
- Dietary preparation: eat and drink moderately (warm and warm) before going out, reduce salt intake;
- Keep warm when you go out:
- Wear hats and gloves when you go out to protect your blood vessels;
- If you plan to exercise, don't wear too much clothing to avoid sweating after exercise;
Editor: Chunyujun
Source: Yitu.com, PPT provided by doctors