Cold weather is very unfavorable for people with hypertension because low temperatures cause blood vessels to contract, making blood pressure easily increase suddenly. This increases the risk of stroke, myocardial infarction and stroke. Therefore, in winter, patients need to pay special attention to health care to prevent complications.
Keep your body warm
When it's cold, patients need to dress warmly enough, especially in the head, neck, chest and feet. Limit going out when the weather is too cold or windy; if you have to go out, you should wear a mask to avoid inhaling cold air. Even when indoors, you need to keep warm, avoid drafts. You can use air conditioners or heaters, but absolutely do not use charcoal stoves or charcoal in closed rooms because of the risk of CO poisoning.
Patients should avoid sudden temperature changes because the body is difficult to adapt, easily leading to stroke or myocardial infarction. You should not go out at night or early morning if not necessary. In case you have to go out, you need to dress warmly in advance and open the door slowly so that the body can adapt to a cold environment.
In winter, patients should not wake up too early. After a night of rest, the body's adaptability is still poor, blood vessel elasticity decreases, and sudden cold winds can cause high blood pressure, especially dangerous for the elderly.
Diet
Patients with high blood pressure need to eat lightly, the amount of salt should be less than 5-6g/day. Should supplement lean meat, fish, eggs, milk, bean products; increase green vegetables, fresh fruits and whole grains. Potassium-rich fruits such as oranges, tangerines, grapefruits help support blood pressure stabilization. Limit animal organs, processed foods, pickled vegetables; avoid eating too much fat and sugar.
Do not smoke, minimize alcohol and coffee because these are factors that increase the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular complications.
Exercise
Regular and appropriate exercise helps stabilize blood pressure and increase resistance. Patients should choose gentle exercises such as walking, bodybuilding, tai chi. When exercising, they need to warm up carefully, choose a ventilated, warm place; avoid exercising outdoors in the early morning or when the weather is too cold, you can do light exercises indoors.
Keep your mind relaxed
Stress, anxiety, and anger easily increase blood pressure. Patients need to maintain a relaxed spirit, get enough sleep, and limit stress.
Comply with treatment
Patients need to take medication and re-examine according to the doctor's instructions, do not arbitrarily change the dose or stop the drug when blood pressure stabilizes. Sudden withdrawal can cause blood pressure to increase again without symptoms, leading to dangerous complications such as cerebral hemorrhage.
