[Article content: from readers' contributions]
Mr. Lee, a 51-year-old accountant with a pale face and a heavy gait, told Dr. Wong that he had high blood pressure during a recent medical check-up and that it was like a bolt from the blue for him.
As a person with strict health requirements, Mr. Li decided to quit salt completely, hoping to control his blood pressure in this way.
"Doctor, I don't even touch a tiny amount of salt now, but I don't feel like I'm getting any better. Mr. Lee felt a little sad.
Dr. Wang hurriedly invited Mr. Li to sit down first, hoping that he would inform him in detail about his eating habits and lifestyle.
Dr. Wang then performed a series of blood pressure measurements and other related tests for him, and through careful examination, I found that his blood pressure did drop, but this salt-free diet also seemed to cause him other problems, such as decreased energy and constant fatigue.
"Mr. Li, I understand your determination to control your blood pressure by adjusting your diet, but not consuming salt at all may not be the best option. Dr. Wang said.
Knowing that hypertension is a common chronic disease that affects the health of hundreds of millions of people around the world, reducing salt intake in moderation is indeed one of the effective ways to control hypertension, because there is a clear association between excessive sodium intake and hypertension.
It is important to remind everyone that sodium is an electrolyte that is very important to the human body, and if you do not consume salt at all, it will interfere with the electrolyte balance in the body, which may cause a series of new health problems.
"Our goal is to achieve a healthy balance, and too low salt intake may lead to insufficient sodium levels in the body, which can affect nerve and muscle function and may even lead to irregular heart rhythms. Dr. Wang continued.
The doctor advised Mr. Lee to moderate his salt intake rather than avoid it altogether, and guided him to adopt a more holistic approach to managing high blood pressure, including moderate exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol intake, and increasing dietary levels of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, all of which contribute to the natural regulation of blood pressure.
In the months that followed, Mr. Li adjusted his lifestyle habits under the guidance of his doctor, began to selectively consume natural foods with low sodium content, moderately increased the proportion of fruits and vegetables, and also engaged in regular physical activities such as brisk walking and swimming.
A few months later, Mr. Lee came to Dr. Wang's clinic again, and he looked more energetic and his face was flushed again.
"Doctor, I feel much better! My blood pressure has also become very stable," Mr. Li told the doctor excitedly.
In fact, a balanced and holistic approach is often more effective than extreme dietary modifications when dealing with hypertension or other chronic conditions.
For Mr. Li, adjusting his lifestyle habits through professional guidance and scientific methods has not only improved his blood pressure, but also improved his overall quality of life.
We can also deeply understand that chronic disease management is not a single aspect of adjustment, but a multi-faceted and comprehensive process, which includes consideration of diet, physical activity, mental health and other aspects.
Every small change is made to achieve a bigger health goal.
Dr. Wong had an in-depth conversation with Mr. Lee and learned that there are other stressors in his life, such as work stress and family responsibilities, which may indirectly affect his blood pressure.
So in addition to adjusting your diet and increasing physical activity, it's equally important to reduce stress and improve your mental health, such as regular deep breathing exercises, yoga and meditation.
This holistic approach not only helped Mr. Lee control his blood pressure, but also taught him how to better cope with the stresses and challenges of daily life, which is very important for any person with high blood pressure.
After several months of hard work, Mr. Li's blood pressure has stabilized within the ideal range, and what is more gratifying is that he not only feels healthier, but also more positive and optimistic.
Do you have any different views on this?