Hypertension is a common condition in our lives. Many people with hypertension lose confidence in life due to long-term medication. There are many causes of hypertension, and the ones we are familiar with are diet and age-related hypertension. However, hypertension can actually be prevented. The key is to maintain good lifestyle habits.
(1) Avoid extreme emotions
Anger, rage, and tension can cause constriction of blood vessels throughout the body, leading to rapid increase in blood pressure, accelerated heart rate, increased oxygen consumption of the heart muscle, increased cardiac load, and the development or worsening of diseases. It can even trigger myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, and other conditions. Therefore, to prevent hypertension, it is important to maintain a pleasant mood.
Recommendation: Hypertensive patients should cultivate multiple interests, actively participate in social welfare activities within their capabilities, engage in cultural and entertainment activities that suit them, and develop hobbies such as painting, calligraphy, gardening, bird-keeping, fishing, and listening to music. Good interests and hobbies can broaden the mind, cultivate sentiment, relieve physical and mental stress, and be beneficial for emotional regulation and maintaining psychological balance.
(2) Improve constipation symptoms
Constipation is common among patients with hypertension. If constipation is improved, blood pressure will decrease.
Firstly, constipation can cause discomfort such as bloating and abdominal pain, which can lead to tension and increase blood pressure. Moreover, harmful bacteria in the intestines increase during constipation, which has various adverse effects on the body and affects blood pressure. In addition, if a hypertensive patient suffers from constipation, exerting force during bowel movements can risk a stroke. Straining during bowel movements can increase blood pressure, which is a trigger for stroke.
Recommendation: Hypertensive patients should consume plenty of foods high in dietary fiber, such as vegetables and fruits. They should develop a habit of regular bowel movements (especially after breakfast when there is a tendency to defecate). They should engage in appropriate exercise and drink plenty of water (drinking cold water or milk in the morning is preferable).
(3) Get more sunlight
Sunbathing is a method of exposing the body's surface directly to sunlight according to specific requirements of sequence and duration, using the radiation effect of the sun to treat diseases or exercise the body. During sunbathing, infrared rays can dilate blood vessels in the superficial tissues, promote blood circulation, make the heart beat more forcefully, deepen respiration, and increase overall metabolism. It also has a good therapeutic effect on early hypertension.
Recommendation: Sunbathing should not be excessive and should follow a gradual progression. The amount of exposure should increase gradually.
(4) Relax during holidays
During holidays, hypertensive patients often experience aggravation of their condition, cerebral hemorrhage, or myocardial infarction due to accelerated pace of life, excessive fatigue, overeating, excessive drinking, emotional excitement, or exposure to cold wind.
Recommendation: Hypertensive patients should pay special attention to enhance self-protection awareness, rest more during holidays, ensure sufficient sleep, avoid excessive eating and drinking, and beware of excessive joy leading to sorrow.
(5) Take medication and measure blood pressure on time
Hypertensive patients should adhere to timely and appropriate medication and blood pressure measurement under the guidance of a doctor to maintain blood pressure at an ideal level. It is important not to stop medication without consulting a doctor. In recent years, domestic and foreign scholars have found that if hypertensive patients stop taking antihypertensive medication suddenly, 5% of them may experience "withdrawal syndrome" within 48 hours, characterized by rebound in blood pressure, sometimes even exceeding the original highest level. Patients may experience excitement, headaches, nausea, insomnia, sweating, or even stroke. If the patient also has coronary heart disease, it can lead to exacerbated myocardial ischemia and hypoxia, resulting in myocardial infarction or sudden death.
Recommendation: Hypertensive patients should not stop taking antihypertensive medication without proper consultation.
(6) Listen to music appropriately
After listening to music, skin temperature increases significantly, blood pressure decreases, and respiration slows down. It provides a feeling of comfort, relaxation, and naturalness. Some music can increase cerebral blood flow, while others can reduce blood flow velocity and alleviate adverse stimuli caused by external noise. It is important to choose appropriate music based on different situations. For example, when eating, listening to soft music can increase appetite and promote digestion. When exercising, fast-paced dance music or strong rhythmic marches can stimulate rhythmic and joyful exercise. After exercise, bathing, or when trying to relax, it is advisable to listen to low-frequency, soft music such as the sound of waves at the beach or seagull calls to achieve relaxation.
Recommendation: Hypertensive patients with the means to do so should use music every day to adjust their mental state.
(7) Brush hair frequently
"Frequent hair brushing" is one of the ancient methods of health preservation in traditional Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine believes that the head is the meeting point of all yang, and it gathers dozens of meridians and acupoints such as the twelve meridians and eight extraordinary meridians of the human body. Stimulating these acupoints by brushing the hair can promote meridian circulation, improve blood circulation, regulate blood and oxygen supply to the brain, relieve brain fatigue, restore brain vitality, enhance brain sensitivity, and effectively adjust and strengthen organ functions through brain adjustments. It plays a role in preventing and treating diseases and promoting health.
Recommendation: Hair brushing therapy should be persistent, brushing hair once in the morning, afternoon, and evening for about 2-3 minutes each time. The brushing action should be gentle, and the speed should be slow, focusing on comfort.
Since hypertension in the early stages does not have obvious symptoms and is often manifested as headaches, heaviness in the head, dizziness, tinnitus, palpitations, shortness of breath, or numbness in the hands and feet, these symptoms are easily mixed with symptoms of other diseases and can be easily overlooked, delaying the treatment of hypertension. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness of prevention and treatment of hypertension. Only by understanding the symptoms and prevention of hypertension can we better detect and effectively treat it.
