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A 67-year-old patient was rushed to the hospital by ambulance in the middle of the night at the heart treatment center of a city hospital.
The patient's family anxiously followed, pale and nervous. Doctors quickly made a preliminary diagnosis of the patient and confirmed that it was a myocardial infarction. While the emergency treatment was being given, the family members eagerly asked the doctor why this happened in the middle of the night all of a sudden.
In between intense treatments, the doctor explained to the family that there are three things that the elderly should never do when they wake up in the middle of the night. First of all, they should not get up immediately to move, which can suddenly increase the burden on the heart, especially if they have a history of heart disease.
Second, don't drink plenty of cold water or caffeinated beverages right away, which can cause blood pressure fluctuations and increase the risk of heart attacks. Finally, avoid dealing with emotional stress or nervousness at night, which can trigger heart problems.
In this treatment, the patient's name was Li Guoqiang, a retired factory worker. Li Guoqiang pays great attention to family in his retirement life, often walks with his wife, and occasionally participates in some community chess and card activities. However, he has had a heart attack for several years, but none of his previous symptoms were particularly severe.
During the treatment, the doctor inquired in detail about Li Guoqiang's living habits and eating patterns. Guoqiang has a slight sleep disturbance and often wakes up in the middle of the night, and he usually chooses to get up and go to the kitchen to drink water or watch TV in the living room to help him fall back asleep. However, such a habit triggers precisely the contraindications mentioned by the doctor, especially if he has a heart condition.
Doctors point out that while these habits may seem trivial to most people, for older adults with a history of heart disease, any small lifestyle change can pose unpredictable health risks. People with heart disease are three times more likely to suddenly engage in physical activity after waking up in the middle of the night.
Those who remained relatively static at night were 30% less likely to have a recurrence of heart disease than those who were active at night. Staying static at night and avoiding sudden physical activity is vital for heart health. Doctors also emphasize the importance of managing emotions, especially for older people with heart disease.
They should try to avoid dealing with major emotional problems, such as anxiety or depression, at night, as mood swings can also increase the burden on the heart and may even lead to problems such as irregular heartbeats. After emergency treatment, Lee's condition stabilized, and his family thanked the doctor for his explanation.
Before leaving, Lee's son asked if there were any special heart prevention measures that could be implemented at home to reduce the risk of similar events in his father in the future.
Doctors have made a number of recommendations, including maintaining a good diet, getting a moderate amount of physical activity on a regular basis, and using some simple relaxation techniques to manage your mood.
He also suggested that the home could be equipped with some basic medical equipment, such as an electrocardiogram monitor, so that Li Guoqiang's heart condition could be monitored in a timely manner.
In these ways, Li and his family can better grasp his health and take timely steps to prevent the recurrence of heart problems.
What do you think about a heart attack? Welcome to discuss in the comment area!