Winter is the high season for stroke and myocardial infarction. If there are hypertensive patients in the family, they must take the necessary preventive measures in advance so that they can spend the winter peacefully. Studies have shown that the average systolic blood pressure in humans in winter is 12 mm Hg higher than in summer, and the average diastolic blood pressure is 6 mm Hg higher than in summer, and for every 1°C drop in temperature, the systolic blood pressure rises by 1.3 mm Hg and the diastolic blood pressure rises by 0.6 mm Hg. At the same time, blood pressure fluctuations in winter are also significantly greater than those in summer. In this cold winter season, if the patient is in a state of fatigue, stress and excitement, it will make the blood pressure higher and increase the risk of adverse consequences. The control of blood pressure in winter should emphasize a multifaceted approach, often emphasizing and focusing only on medication is not comprehensive, but more important to implement a healthy lifestyle.
I. Healthy lifestyle
1.Salt limitation
High salt has now been more definitely recognized as one of the important factors that raise blood pressure and affect the effect of drugs to lower blood pressure, and is also one of the important elements related to the treatment of hypertensive patients to achieve the target blood pressure. The WHO recommends that the average daily salt intake of the general population should be controlled at less than 6g, and the US recommends that the daily salt intake of people with hypertension should be controlled at 4-6g, and our guidelines for the prevention and treatment of hypertension believe that this standard is also suitable for China.
There are five main salt reduction methods
(1) Education should be carried out throughout the treatment of hypertension. Let patients truly understand the meaning and importance of salt reduction. Thus, they can consciously limit their salt intake.
(2) Eat more fresh vegetables and reduce the consumption of salt-pickled vegetables, salted fish and salted meat.
(3) Change the cooking method, appropriately increase sugar, vinegar, spicy and other seasonings to reduce salt-containing seasonings.
(4) eat less or even do not eat products containing salt, such as meat products, soybean products, instant noodles and certain fast food, etc.
(5) Put salt when the dish is out of the pot.
2, limit the consumption of alcohol
Many studies have proved that the amount of alcohol consumed is independently and positively correlated with blood pressure, so the relationship between alcohol and blood pressure should be widely publicized to make drinkers deeply aware of the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption and consciously limit alcohol consumption.
3.Weight reduction
Overweight and obesity is another risk factor for hypertension, foreign research shows that if the median body mass index (kg/㎡) of the population is reduced from 25 to 23, it is expected that the population systolic blood pressure can be reduced by 1.6 mmHg. It is important to make overweight and obese people aware of the importance of weight reduction and to start practically in life.
Weight reduction measures are twofold.
(1) Reduce caloric intake, adjust the dietary structure, eat less high-calorie foods, and eat more low-fat foods and vegetables.
②Adhere to physical activity, strive to 3-5 times / week, half an hour – 1 hour / time. Exercise can lower blood pressure has become a medical consensus, research that aerobic exercise can lower blood pressure, a domestic study found that: light and moderate elderly hypertensive patients aerobic exercise after 3 months can effectively reduce or control the primary hypertension of old age.
However, the amount and manner of exercise should vary from person to person, and those with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and other diseases should follow medical advice.
4.Quit smoking
Smoking is a major public health hazard, both to themselves and others, smoking is known to be harmful to the trachea and lungs, and smoking promotes the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis in the heart vessels, cerebral vessels and peripheral blood vessels. Smoking is also a risk factor for hypertension. Smoking not only increases blood pressure but also reduces the efficacy of anti-hypertensive drugs. Quitting smoking can lower blood pressure and protect the heart and brain. Strengthen the education of smokers to make them determined and take steps to be a model for quitting. Smoking cessation is one of the cornerstones of hypertension treatment.
Second, blood pressure monitoring and drug therapy
The principle of treatment of any hypertension is to lower the blood pressure to reach the target, and the aim is to protect the target organs. Winter hypertension treatment is no exception. The vast majority (9 out of 10) of the organ-protective effect of antihypertensive drugs comes from lowering blood pressure to the target, so how to make winter hypertensive patients lower blood pressure to the target as early as possible is an important initiative to improve the control rate of hypertension. Winter hypertension drug therapy has its own special characteristics. Due to the cold temperature in winter, blood vessels may be stimulated by cold air at any time and contract and dilate abnormally, so hypertensive patients should do a good job of daily blood pressure measurement and monitoring records. Promptly visit a specialist when blood pressure rises abnormally.