In the hospital, a middle-aged male doctor is sitting in his office, flipping through the medical records. At this time, a middle-aged man, Mr. Li, pushed the door in, with a little confusion and exhaustion on his face.
"Doctor, I've been sleepy lately, especially after lunch, and I can't concentrate on my work. At first I thought it was overeating, but this has been going on for quite some time and I'm a little worried. Mr. Li rubbed his eyes as he spoke, as if he had not fully recovered from the sleepiness of the afternoon.
The doctor put down the case in his hand and looked at Mr. Li gently, "Mr. Li, it is true that being sleepy after eating may be caused by eating too much, but it is also possible that the body is sending other signals to us. Today, let's find out. ”
The doctor stood up and motioned for Mr. Lee to follow him into the next conference room. There, he had already prepared a small lecture on drowsiness after a meal.
"First of all, we need to understand that sleepiness after meals is closely related to three hormones." The doctor turned on the projector, and the names and descriptions of the three hormones were displayed on the screen.
"The first is hypothalamic secretin, also known as orexin. It regulates our eating behavior and sleep patterns. When we are full, the blood sugar rises, and the level of hypothalamic secretin drops, which is why we feel tired. The doctor explained.
Mr. Li nodded, as if he had some understanding of the problem, "What about the second one?" ”
"The second is insulin. Not only does it regulate blood sugar levels, but it also promotes protein synthesis to ensure that tryptophan enters the brain. Tryptophan is converted into melatonin, an important substance that regulates our sleep. So, when insulin secretion increases, we feel sleepy. The doctor continued.
"I see, but what about the third one?" Mr. Li asked.
"The third is cholecystokinin. It is secreted in the small intestine and is responsible for transmitting satiety signals. At the same time, it also activates the sleeping areas in the brain, making us feel sleepy. Especially after eating high-fat foods, the secretion of this hormone will be more vigorous. The doctor elaborated.
Mr. Li listened with relish, but the confusion on his face did not completely dissipate, "But, doctor, I have been in this condition for a long time, could it be a sign of some disease?" ”
The doctor smiled slightly, as if he had expected Mr. Li to ask this question, "Mr. Li, you have asked the point." Being sleepy after eating can indeed be a sign of one of the five diseases. ”
The screen switches again to show the names and descriptions of the five diseases.
"First of all, diabetes. People with diabetes may feel tired when their blood sugar levels rise after a meal. This is because the increase in blood glucose leads to an increase in blood viscosity, which in turn leads to ischemia and hypoxia in the body's tissues. The doctor explained.
"What about the second one?" Mr. Li asked nervously.
"The second is heart disease. Heart disease weakens the heart's ability to pump blood, leading to a lack of oxygen supply throughout the body, causing feelings of fatigue and weakness. Especially after eating, the burden on the heart increases, and this feeling will be more obvious. The doctor continued.
"And what about the third one? Will it be serious? Mr. Li's brow furrowed.
"The third is postprandial hypotension. This is a syndrome that is common in clinical practice. Postprandial hypotension is defined if systolic blood pressure drops by more than 20 mmHg within two hours of eating. Patients may experience symptoms such as angina, malaise, and syncope. The doctor explained, while watching Mr. Lee's reaction.
Mr. Li was frightened when he heard this, and hurriedly asked, "What about the fourth and fifth types?" ”
"The fourth is hypothyroidism. Thyroxine is essential for maintaining the body's metabolism. Once the thyroid gland is weakened, the amount of thyroxine produced by the body will be insufficient, causing the nervous system to be unable to maintain an excited state, which can lead to drowsiness. Patients may also show symptoms such as an apathetic look, loss of appetite, and difficulty concentrating. The doctor explained.
"The last one is anemia. Some people with anemia may experience intense drowsiness after eating. This is because after dietary intake, the body's blood circulation changes, resulting in a decrease in the number of hemoglobin and red blood cells. Because the brain's blood carrying capacity is weakened, people tend to feel easily tired and drowsy. The doctor concluded.
After listening to the doctor's explanation, Mr. Li's face became even more solemn, "Doctor, what is going on with my situation?" What tests do I need? ”
The doctor patted Mr. Li on the shoulder and comforted, "Mr. Li, don't worry too much. We also need to know more about your situation. I will arrange for you to have some relevant tests, such as blood sugar, blood pressure, thyroid function and blood count. After the results are available, we will develop a treatment plan based on the specific situation. ”
A few days later, the results of the examination came back. Mr. Lee's blood sugar and blood pressure are within the normal range, but he has some hypothyroidism and a little bit of anemia.
The doctor looked at the test results and said to Mr. Li, "Mr. Li, your postprandial drowsiness may be related to hypothyroidism and mild anemia. But don't worry, it's not serious. We can improve with medication and dietary modifications. ”
"Medication? What kind of medicine do I need to take? Mr. Li asked with concern.
"For hypothyroidism, we can take some thyroxine replacement drugs to replenish the lack of thyroxine in the body. These drugs can help increase the metabolic rate and improve the excitability of the nervous system. As for anemia, we can take some drugs such as iron or vitamin B12 to promote the production of red blood cells and the synthesis of hemoglobin. The doctor explained.
"What about dietary modifications? How do I need to eat? Mr. Li continued to ask.
"In terms of diet, you can add some foods rich in iron and vitamin B12, such as red meat, liver, egg yolks, etc. At the same time, eating more iodine-rich foods can also help improve the symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as seafood, seaweed, etc. In addition, it is important to maintain a balanced diet and avoid excessive dieting or picky eating. The doctor instructed in detail.
After hearing this, Mr. Li suddenly realized, "I see, thank you, doctor!" I'll do what you suggest. ”
Under the guidance of the doctor, Mr. Li began medication and dietary adjustments. After a few months, his postprandial sleepiness has improved significantly, and his mental state has recovered a lot.
This experience left Mr. Li deeply impressed
I learned about the importance of health. He said with emotion: "It turns out that being sleepy after dinner is not a trivial matter!" Thanks to the doctor's careful diagnosis and patient explanation, I have a deeper understanding of my body. ”
The doctor responded with a smile: "Mr. Li, health is no small matter. Only if we pay enough attention to our body can we detect and solve the problem in time. I hope you can continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle and enjoy a good life. (Note: This article is a fictional plot and aims to popularize scientific knowledge, and actual medical decisions should be based on the advice of professional doctors and the specific situation of the patient.) ）