Uncle Zhang, known as the "health model" in the community, insists on morning exercise in the park every morning, which has already become a beautiful landscape in the eyes of everyone. However, on a seemingly ordinary day, Uncle Zhang suddenly fainted at home and was rushed to the hospital. After a series of detailed and thorough examinations, the doctor unfortunately diagnosed Uncle Zhang with cerebral infarction, and this sudden news was like a thunderbolt from the sky, which made the whole family fall into deep shock and worry. In the follow-up discussion of the condition, the doctor mentioned a detail that is often overlooked in daily life - drinking water habits, which is actually one of the potential triggers of this sudden cerebral infarction. This can't help but make us re-examine the fact that even something as simple as drinking water needs to be paid special attention to for the elderly.
Cerebral infarction, known in medical terms as ischemic stroke, is rooted in the blockage of blood vessels in the brain, which in turn leads to a serious pathological state of insufficient blood supply and hypoxia damage to brain tissue. Poor blood flow is one of the important factors in the occurrence of cerebral infarction. Blood circulation is a key process for all parts of the body to obtain oxygen and nutrients, and its smoothness is directly related to our health. As an important part of the blood, the intake method, time, and amount of water have a subtle impact on blood circulation.
"Four Don'ts" for the Elderly to Drink Water
In view of the gradual decline of physical functions in the elderly, especially the increased vulnerability of the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems, doctors especially remind that the following "four don'ts" must be kept in mind when drinking water to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral infarction.
1. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink water
Many older people have a habit of waiting until they feel thirsty to drink water, which is actually the wrong thing to do. Thirst is a sign of severe dehydration, when the body is already in a state of mild dehydration, blood viscosity increases, blood flow slows down, and it is not conducive to the blood supply and oxygen supply to the brain and other organs. Doctors suggest that the elderly should develop the habit of drinking water regularly and quantitatively, such as after getting up in the morning, half an hour before meals, and one hour before going to bed, which are good times to drink water to maintain water balance in the body and promote blood circulation.
2. Don't drink a lot of water at one time
Some older people will drink a large glass of water at once after exercise or when they have not drunk water for a long time, which is also not advisable. Excessive water intake in a short period of time can quickly lead to blood dilution, which in turn will increase the workload of the heart, especially for the elderly with cardiac insufficiency or hypertension, which may become a predisposing factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The correct way to do this is to drink slowly in small sips to give the body enough time to absorb and regulate the water and maintain a steady flow of blood.
3. Avoid drinking water with extreme temperatures, whether it is too hot or too cold.
The regulation of water temperature is also a key factor that cannot be ignored for the optimization of drinking water effect. Overheated water can easily burn the oral mucosa and esophagus, while overly cold water may irritate the gastrointestinal tract and cause vasoconstriction, which is not conducive to blood circulation. For the elderly, it is best to choose plain water or weak tea with a moderate temperature (about 40°C), which can both quench thirst and reduce irritation to the body.
Fourth, don't ignore the quality of water and the way you drink water
The safety of drinking water is greatly affected by the purity of the water quality, which is directly related to human health and well-being. The elderly should choose a clean, pollution-free drinking water source, such as boiled tap water, or bottled or bottled water that has been certified by the standard. At the same time, you should also pay attention to the way you drink water, avoid drinking water directly with a straw, because straws are easy to breed bacteria and are not easy to clean; It is recommended to use a clean water cup and wash and disinfect it regularly to ensure that the drinking water is hygienic.
In addition to the above-mentioned "four don'ts", the elderly can also start from the following aspects to drink water scientifically and protect their health:
Careful observation of the color of the urine is an intuitive and important window into the body's water metabolism and potential health information. If the urine is yellowish, it indicates that the body is facing a state of dehydration, and measures should be taken to replenish water in time; On the other hand, if the urine is unusually light in color, it may indicate that you are drinking too much water, and you need to adjust your water intake to maintain balance.
Eat a balanced diet: Water in food is also an important source of water. The elderly should actively consume colorful fresh fruits and vegetables, which are not only full of moisturizing water, but also rich in vitamins and minerals, which have a significant positive effect on promoting smooth blood circulation and effectively resisting the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Moderate exercise: Moderate exercise can promote blood circulation, improve the body's metabolic capacity, and help the balance of water in the body and the discharge of waste. The elderly group should choose suitable forms of exercise according to their physical condition, such as leisurely walking, gentle exercises of Tai Chi, or quiet stretching of yoga.
Regular comprehensive and detailed medical check-ups are a key strategy to effectively prevent the occurrence of potential diseases and detect and manage health problems in a timely manner. By accurately detecting key health indicators such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids, we can have a comprehensive insight into our own health status, and then scientifically adjust our drinking and eating habits, effectively building a solid line of defense against cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
In short, drinking water is a small thing, but for the elderly, it is a big health matter. Following the principle of "four don'ts", scientific drinking water, combined with a healthy lifestyle and eating habits, we can effectively reduce the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral infarction, and enjoy a healthier and better life in old age.