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Uncle Li is 75 years old and was a primary school teacher before retiring. Recently, he has always felt that the quality of sleep has deteriorated, and he wakes up with cold feet and legs, and often wakes up at night. When his son Xiao Li learned about this, he suggested that the old father wear socks to keep warm when he slept. Although Uncle Li did so, he found that his swollen feet were getting worse and worse, and it was difficult to walk. In desperation, he had to come to the hospital for help.
In the outpatient room, cardiologist Wang Liang is carefully checking Uncle Li's medical records. While measuring his blood pressure, he asked, "Grandpa Li, how is your health lately?"
Uncle Li sighed and said, "Hey, I always feel cold feet when I sleep recently, and then I heard that my son is wearing socks, but my feet are swollen and it is inconvenient to walk." What's going on, doctor?"
Dr. Wang nodded and continued to ask, "Do you have chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes?"
Uncle Li recalled and said, "I do have high blood pressure and blood sugar, but I have been taking medicine to control it. As for the socks, the cotton socks that my son bought casually, I didn't think much about it. "
After listening to Uncle Li's narration, Dr. Wang said earnestly, "Grandpa Li, your situation is not uncommon. For patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases or the elderly, it is necessary to be extra careful when wearing socks when sleeping. Socks that are too thick and too tight tend to obstruct blood circulation and cause edema in the lower limbs. Especially the elderly with arteriosclerosis, varicose veins and other diseases should be more cautious. "
"Is there any benefit to wearing socks, and can I continue to wear them?" Uncle Li was puzzled.
Dr. Wang explains, "Wearing socks to sleep properly is still good for your health. It improves peripheral circulation, warms the feet, and helps sleep. At the same time, it can also prevent venous thrombosis of the lower limbs and protect cardiovascular and cerebrovascular vessels. But the premise is to choose the right socks, cotton, silk and other soft and breathable materials are appropriate, not too tight and too thick. Don't wear it for too long to avoid getting wet and damaging your skin. "
"I see, it looks like I'm going to have to ask my son to change me into the right pair of socks. Uncle Li suddenly realized.
Dr Wong added, "You're right. However, in addition to wearing socks, the elderly should also pay attention to keeping the room warm in winter to avoid catching a cold; Do a good job of massage exercises for the limbs on weekdays to strengthen blood circulation; It is also necessary to control blood pressure, blood sugar and other indicators, and recheck them regularly. In short, the body is your own, and you must take good care of it. "
Studies have shown that the circadian rhythm of the body's body temperature is closely related to the quality of sleep. When the body temperature drops at night, it is easier for people to fall asleep. And when the body temperature rises in the early morning, people are more likely to wake up.
Keeping your feet warm can help you fall asleep as your body temperature drops. Therefore, wearing a comfortable pair of socks before bed can be a good way to improve your sleep.
Not only that, wearing socks while sleeping can also prevent some cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. This is because, when we lie flat, the venous return of the lower limbs is blocked, and blood tends to accumulate in the feet.
If you sit for a long time and lie down for a long time, and the blood vessels constrict due to the cold of the feet, it may induce venous thrombosis in the lower extremities. Wearing socks can keep you warm, promote blood circulation, and reduce the risk of blood clots. This is undoubtedly good news for patients with heart disease and cerebral infarction.
However, it should be pointed out that not all older people are suitable to sleep in socks. Just like what happened to Uncle Li, some elderly people already suffer from diseases such as edema and arteriosclerosis of the lower limbs, and wearing tight and heavy socks is tantamount to adding insult to injury, but hindering health.
In addition, diabetic patients often have damaged nerves in their feet, and their perception of temperature and touch is reduced. If you choose an overheated foot warmer or socks for warmth, you may underestimate the risk of burns and cause irreversible wound infection.
So, how should the elderly wear socks correctly? The key is to grasp the "three degrees": the material should be soft and breathable, with pure cotton, silk, and bamboo fiber; The tightness should be moderate, and the foot should not be too tight; The temperature should be appropriate, slightly cool and slightly warm, and avoid overheating. At the same time, you should also pay attention to daily foot cleaning and care, and change your socks frequently to avoid bacteria breeding due to moisture.
Of course, wearing socks is not a panacea for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protection. Fundamentally speaking, it is also necessary to start from the aspects of living habits, diet and daily life. Only by forming a healthy lifestyle can we escort the blood vessels of the whole body from the source and stay away from the troubles of heart and brain diseases.
To wear or not to wear, each elderly person's choice may be different. But no matter what, protecting your body is the greatest responsibility to your family. May all the elderly have a good night's sleep and a healthy old age.