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Copywriting丨Health Science Doctor Wang
Editor丨Health Science Doctor Wang
As the summer heat wave rolls in, the solar term of the Great Heat is quietly approaching, which marks the arrival of the hottest time of the year. This season may not be so friendly for many seniors, especially those who don't have a very good heart.
Do you know? Some daily habits, during the summer season, may quietly "hand" your heart. Let me, a doctor with many years of clinical experience, reveal to you the secrets of the elderly with a bad heart, 6 habits that must be vigilant in the summer season!
Habit 1: Drink cold
On a hot day, a cold drink or a popsicle is particularly enjoyable? But did you know that this is a "sudden cold snap" for the heart?
When cold drinks enter the body, they stimulate blood vessels to constrict, increase blood pressure, and instantly increase the burden on the heart. This is undoubtedly a big challenge for the elderly who have poor heart function.
Studies have shown that a large amount of cold drinks in a short period of time can lead to increased heart rate and even induce arrhythmias. This is because the stimulation of cold drinks increases sympathetic nervous excitability, which in turn leads to disturbance of cardiac electrophysiological activity.
This stimulation can be even more dangerous, especially for older people who already have heart diseases such as coronary heart disease and high blood pressure.
In addition to cold drinks, the same is true for chilled watermelon and ice cream that are often eaten in summer. Friends with a bad heart, try to avoid greedy cold drinks in the summer season, and if you really want to drink something cold, you may wish to choose warm boiled water, which is both thirst-quenching and safe.
Alternatively, you can opt for mild drinks such as green tea, chrysanthemum tea, etc., which not only quench your thirst but also help to clear your heart and calm your mind.
Habit 2: Blow the air conditioner for a long time
Air conditioning, the "summer artifact" in summer, but staying in an air-conditioned room for a long time is not good for the heart. The temperature difference between the inside and outside of the air-conditioned room is large, and frequent entry and exit will make it difficult for the body to adapt, and it is easy to cause colds, pneumonia and other respiratory diseases, which will increase the burden on the heart.
What's worse is that blowing the air conditioner for a long time will also reduce the negative ions in the air, affecting the normal metabolism and blood circulation of the human body, posing a potential threat to heart health.
Negative ions play an important role in human health, they can improve heart and lung function, promote blood circulation and metabolism. In an air-conditioned room, the number of negative ions will be greatly reduced due to poor air circulation, which is undoubtedly a disadvantage for the elderly with poor heart function.
Even if the weather is hot, remember to open the windows for ventilation at the right time to maintain air circulation. Alternatively, you can choose to use an air humidifier or ionizer in combination with an air conditioner to increase the amount of ions in the air and improve indoor air quality.
Habit 3: Get up in the morning
As the saying goes, "the plan of the day is in the morning", but for the elderly with a bad heart, waking up in the morning is a "technical job". Sitting up from the bed abruptly will cause the blood pressure to rise instantly, the burden on the heart will increase suddenly, and it is easy to induce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
This is because physiological indicators such as blood pressure and heart rate will be at a relatively low level when the human body sleeps. Getting up suddenly will make these indicators rise instantly, causing a greater impact on the heart.
The correct way to do this is to lie down in bed for a while after waking up, take deep breaths, stretch your waist, and let your body gradually adjust to the new day.
You can also choose to put a glass of warm water next to your bed and drink a glass after waking up, which can help replenish water in the body and promote blood circulation. I can't eat hot tofu in a hurry, and I can't get up in the morning.
Habit 4: Excessive exercise
Exercise is a good thing for the body, but excessive exercise is not so kind to the heart. In the summer season, the weather is hot, the human body sweats a lot, and the body loses water and electrolytes quickly.
Strenuous exercise will increase the burden on the heart, increase the heart rate, and increase blood pressure, which may lead to insufficient blood supply to the heart and even induce serious diseases such as angina pectoris and myocardial infarction.
Friends with a bad heart, when choosing an exercise method, must do what they can, walking, tai chi and other light exercises are more suitable. You can also choose to exercise early in the morning or late in the evening, when the temperature is cooler and the body feels more comfortable.
Habit 5: Mood swings
In summer, people are easily irritable and have great mood swings. Emotions are the "barometer" of the heart. Mood swings such as joy and sorrow, anxiety and depression can cause heart nerve dysfunction and induce heart disease.
This is because mood swings increase sympathetic excitability, which in turn leads to disturbances in the heart's electrical activity.
Maintaining peace of mind is essential for heart health. During the summer months, listen to soothing music and read your favorite books to keep your mood happy and peaceful.
You can also choose to chat and go for a walk with friends and family to share each other's joys and worries, which can help relieve psychological stress and maintain emotional stability.
Habit 6: Ignore your body's signals
The body is the capital of the revolution, and for the elderly with a bad heart, it is necessary to pay attention to the signals of the body at all times. Chest tightness, chest pain, palpitation, shortness of breath...... These symptoms may be the heart "alarming".
But some people, especially the elderly, often ignore these important signals because of the idea of "just put up with it and it's over".
These symptoms are all heart signals to you for help, and if you ignore them, it can lead to worsening or even life-threatening conditions.
The body does not sound the alarm for no reason, and it is wise to seek medical attention in time if you feel unwell. You may choose to visit the hospital regularly for check-ups so that potential heart problems can be detected and treated.
Having said all this, do you already have a deeper understanding of the "heart defense war" in the summer season? Protecting your heart is not difficult, the key lies in the little things in your daily life.
As long as we are vigilant against those habits that are not good for the heart and adjust our lifestyle appropriately, we can make the heart "leisurely" in this hot summer.
In addition to the six habits mentioned above, there are some other considerations that deserve our attention. In the summer season, it is advisable to eat a light diet and avoid excessive intake of greasy and spicy food, so as not to increase the burden on the heart.
Maintaining a good routine and getting enough sleep is also an important part of protecting your heart.
Health is no small matter, and the heart is even more important. The summer heat is coming, don't let those casual little habits become the "invisible killer" of your heart. Guarding your heart is guarding your boat of life.
Let's meet every hot summer with a scientific attitude!
What do you have to say about this? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section!