Summer is a peak period for hypertension, and the rise in temperature can also trigger some diseases in hypertensive patients. How should hypertensive patients take care of themselves in the summer? Below, I will bring you seven measures to help hypertensive patients safely pass the summer.
1. Monitor blood pressure regularly
Remember the unpredictable patterns of hypertension in summer and do not relax the monitoring and observation of blood pressure. It is best to self-test blood pressure frequently. If self-testing is not possible, patients should go to the clinic to measure blood pressure every 3-5 days, with a maximum interval of 1 week. If significant fluctuations in blood pressure occur with sudden changes in temperature, the interval should be shortened. If a large difference between daytime and nighttime blood pressure or irregular fluctuations are found, a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring should be done in the hospital to understand the fluctuation patterns of blood pressure and take measures according to the doctor's advice.
2. Supplement negative ions
Negative ions in the air have a good biological effect on multiple functions of the human body. They can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and directly affect the central nervous system in the cerebrospinal fluid, regulate the function of the cerebral cortex, and improve sleep, with sedative, analgesic, and invigorating effects. The use of air negative ions therapy has shown significant effects in conditions such as neurasthenia, neurogenic headache, gastrointestinal neurosis, and sequelae of brain concussion. Medical research has shown that negative oxygen ions with small particle sizes have medical and health effects on the human body. This is because only negative oxygen ions with small particle sizes can easily penetrate the blood-brain barrier and exert their biological effects. The reason why there are many longevity villages in nature is that the proportion of negative ions with small particle sizes is high. Negative oxygen ions with small particle sizes have high activity and long migration distance, forming a negative ion bath environment in the air above longevity areas.
3. Adjust medication according to blood pressure
Generally speaking, as long as the blood pressure is not excessively low, the medication dose should be continued. Some people may have significantly lower blood pressure in summer. Taking the same dose as in winter can easily lower the blood pressure too much, leading to symptoms such as dizziness, insufficient cerebral blood supply, weakness, and even cerebral infarction or angina pectoris. Therefore, hypertensive patients should frequently measure their blood pressure and keep records in the hot summer. Then, timely inform the doctor of these records, and the doctor will adjust the medication dosage based on the patient's monitoring results. However, patients must not change the medication dosage arbitrarily.
4. Pay attention to cooling and avoiding heatstroke
The fluctuation of blood pressure in summer is mainly caused by heat, so the primary strategy for hypertensive patients is to avoid heat and cool down. Measures such as cooling, avoiding heat, and releasing heat can be taken. There are many ways to cool down now, and hypertensive patients should use air conditioning scientifically. The room temperature should not be set too low, and it should be maintained at around 27-28℃ with a constant indoor temperature. Among them, the most recommended method is water cooling - swimming. Swimming not only takes away excessive heat from the body, but also has a cooling effect, and can consume excess nutrients, reduce blood lipids and blood sugar, and reduce fat storage, thus strengthening the body and improving physical fitness.
5. Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration
Under normal environmental temperature, a person needs about 2300 milliliters of water per day, and the total amount of excreted water is also about 2300 milliliters, maintaining a balance of water intake and output. However, in hot summer environments, the body's water excretion can reach about 3300 milliliters, and during high-intensity exercise, the excretion of water in the body can reach about 6600 milliliters. Therefore, in order to achieve water balance in the body, the water intake should be adjusted according to the amount of excretion. Drinking plain water or low-salt water with a salt content not exceeding 1% can effectively replenish water. Fruits and vegetables can also be consumed to supplement water. It should be noted that water should not be drunk only when feeling thirsty. It is necessary to develop the habit of drinking water before feeling thirsty. Drink water in small quantities and multiple times, rather than drinking a large amount of water at once. Weigh yourself before and after exercise. For every 0.5 kilograms of weight loss, drink 2-3 cups of water. Drink more water when urine is dark. Water loss also occurs during sleep, so drink a glass of water before bedtime and after waking up.
6. Do not relax lifestyle therapy
If you have developed good lifestyle habits for preventing and treating hypertension, do not abandon them just because your blood pressure drops in summer. You should adhere to scientifically arranging your daily 24-hour life, eliminating risk factors, and maintaining good health habits. For example: get up slowly in the morning, drink a glass of plain water or low-salt water after washing up, do moderate morning exercises, patiently defecate, eat a light and low-salt diet, eat until 80% full, control weight, soak your feet or take a warm bath before bedtime, maintain an optimistic mood, etc., throughout the year.
In addition, taking a walk after dinner every night is also a good health method!
