In a quiet hospital ward, after treating a patient who had suffered a sudden stroke, doctor Li Ka-shing was giving detailed explanations and reminders to the family.
"In our opinion, some of the morning routines can be harmful for middle-aged and older people." The doctor said to Su Wenjie's family, his voice calm and firm.
The 67-year-old Su Wenjie is retired, and although he usually has a regular life, he also has some bad habits.
When he gets up in the morning, he is used to lighting a cigarette immediately, then going to the kitchen to pour a glass of cold water to quench his thirst, and if he feels a little stiff, he will immediately do some stretching exercises.
But just this morning, Su Wenjie suddenly felt dizzy after completing these three things, and was then rushed to the hospital.
The doctor continued: "Sudden physical activity like Mr. So Wenjie's, especially drinking cold water immediately after smoking, is actually a shock to the body.
First of all, when people first wake up in the morning, their blood pressure is relatively high, and the risk of heart disease and cerebrovascular disease is relatively increased.
If you smoke immediately, nicotine will quickly enter the bloodstream, further increasing the heart rate and blood pressure, and also increasing the constriction of blood vessels. ”
"The human body needs to be gently awakened and adjusted after a night of metabolism, and if cold water is drunk immediately, the gastrointestinal tract will be stimulated.
Such behavior will also lead to rapid constriction of blood vessels, which can be a big challenge for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular vessels.
In addition, sudden physical activity, such as stretching exercises, will stress the muscles that have not warmed up sufficiently, increasing the burden on the heart and brain. ”
The doctor went on to tell another case of a gentleman of the same age who also had health problems due to similar morning behavior.
"The example of this patient is very similar to that of Mr. Su, and it is also because of the wrong habit in the morning that has accumulated potential health risks.
What we have learned from these cases is that middle-aged and older adults should avoid any strenuous or homeostasis activities during the first hour after waking up. ”
Next, in a conversation with Su Wenjie's family, the doctor explained in detail the scientific basis for why middle-aged and elderly people should avoid these behaviors after waking up.
For example, a study involving 5,000 middle-aged and older adults showed that those who smoked immediately after waking up in the morning had an 18% higher risk of cardiovascular disease than others.
At the same time, people who drink cold water immediately during this time period have a higher incidence of gastrointestinal diseases than those who drink room temperature water.
Doctors emphasize that reasonable morning activities and eating habits are essential to maintain cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health.
"For example, you can sit in bed for a few minutes after waking up in the morning to allow your body to gradually adjust to the process of moving from a resting state to an active state.
After that, drink a glass of warm water to help the body's blood circulation and digestive system start smoothly. ”
Given today's stresses and habits, how can we effectively change these ingrained morning behaviors to reduce the impact on the health of middle-aged and older adults?
People can raise awareness of these risks through public health education, such as health talks.
Family members, especially the younger generation, can also give more attention and guidance to the elderly in their lives to help them gradually change their unhealthy morning habits.
You can also set up a relaxation and activity plan after waking up in the morning to gradually guide middle-aged and elderly people to develop a healthy lifestyle.
Start small, such as with the first glass of warm water in the morning, and gradually add other healthy habits, such as brief stretching or walking.
It is believed that through these methods, the impact of bad habits on the health of middle-aged and elderly people can be effectively reduced.
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