Uncle Zhang is a retired teacher, over 60 years old, living a comfortable life, his biggest hobby is to play Tai Chi with a few old friends every morning, and he also likes to play chess in the community room in his spare time. However, a medical check-up a few months ago changed his life. The doctor told him that his blood pressure was high and that he had to keep it under control, otherwise it could lead to more serious health problems. Uncle Zhang didn't care at first, thinking that his usual life was regular, and occasionally high blood pressure was nothing. Until one day, the neighbor Lao Wang suddenly suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, almost dying. This incident deeply shocked Uncle Zhang and realized the danger of high blood pressure. As a result, he began to pay serious attention to his diet and living habits, determined to avoid becoming the next king.
Hypertension is a common health problem in middle-aged and elderly people, and many patients often pay insufficient attention to the condition, which eventually leads to serious complications, and cerebral hemorrhage is one of them. Intracerebral hemorrhage often occurs without warning, and the consequences are serious and even life-threatening. In order to help patients with high blood pressure like Uncle Zhang effectively prevent intracerebral hemorrhage, we have summarized three types of foods and recommend that everyone eat as little as possible to reduce the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage.
High-salt foods: The invisible killer of high blood pressure
The effect of high-salt foods on blood pressure cannot be ignored. The sodium ions in the salt cause blood vessels to constrict, causing blood pressure to rise. Long-term high-salt diet increases the burden on the heart, accelerates the process of arteriosclerosis, and ultimately leads to the risk of high blood pressure and cerebral hemorrhage. The World Health Organization recommends that salt intake should not exceed 5 grams per person per day. However, in their daily lives, many people unknowingly consume salt far beyond this standard.
There are many types of high-salt foods in everyday life, including preserved foods, canned foods, processed meats, and various fast foods. These foods usually contain a lot of salt to increase taste and shelf life. For example, pickled foods such as bacon, salted fish, and kimchi, processed meats such as ham, sausages, and bacon, and fast foods such as fried chicken and burgers all contain high amounts of salt. These foods, if consumed regularly, greatly increase the risk of high blood pressure and intracerebral hemorrhage.
To reduce salt intake, it is advisable to use natural spices and herbs instead of salt when cooking to add flavor to the food. In addition, choose low-salt or salt-free products as much as possible when choosing food products to reduce your dependence on pickled and processed foods. Make it a habit to read food labels and pay attention to the sodium content in them. When eating out, ask the chef to put less salt or choose a lighter dish.
High-fat foods: accelerators of arteriosclerosis
High-fat foods have a profound impact on blood pressure and vascular health. Saturated fats and trans fats can cause elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood, increasing the risk of arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis narrows and stiffens blood vessels, leading to increased blood pressure, which increases the risk of bleeding in the brain. Studies have shown that people who consume high-fat foods for a long time have a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases than people who eat low-fat diets.
Common high-fat foods include fried foods, fatty meats, cream, butter, and various desserts. Fried foods such as french fries, fried chicken, etc., not only contain a lot of saturated fat, but may also contain trans fats. Foods high in animal fats, such as fatty meats and cream, are also the main causes of dyslipidemia. In addition, desserts such as cakes and biscuits often contain a lot of butter or cream, which is appealing but harmful to health.
To protect the health of blood vessels, it is recommended to choose foods that contain unsaturated fats, such as olive oil, nuts, fish, etc. Unsaturated fats help lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol, which is beneficial to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. The Mediterranean diet is a very good low-fat dietary pattern, mainly vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and olive oil, which can effectively reduce the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
High-sugar foods: a source of metabolic burden
Although high-sugar foods do not directly cause an increase in blood pressure, they indirectly affect blood pressure through metabolic pathways. A diet high in sugar can increase body weight, leading to obesity, which is an important risk factor for high blood pressure. In addition, a diet high in sugar can trigger insulin resistance, which can lead to abnormal glucose metabolism, which in turn affects the mechanism of blood pressure regulation. Diabetes and high blood pressure often go hand in hand
The combination of the two greatly increases the risk of cerebral hemorrhage.
Common foods high in sugar include carbonated drinks, candies, desserts, and some processed foods. Carbonated drinks and candies are extremely high in sugar, and long-term consumption or consumption of large amounts can cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels and increase the burden of insulin secretion. Desserts such as cakes and biscuits are not only high in sugar, but also often high in fat, which is more likely to cause health problems.
To reduce sugar intake, it is advisable to choose sugar-free or low-sugar beverages and replace sweets and desserts with fruits as snacks. Read food labels, pay attention to the sugar content, and try to avoid processed foods that are high in sugar. Cultivating healthy eating habits, reducing dependence on sweets, and keeping your weight within the normal range are essential to prevent high blood pressure and intracerebral hemorrhage.
Patients with high blood pressure can effectively reduce the risk of cerebral hemorrhage by adjusting their dietary habits. Avoiding foods high in salt, fat, and sugar is an important measure to protect the health of blood vessels.