Zhang Defu stood in the corridor of the hospital, holding an examination report in his hand, his eyes revealing unbelievable joy. Two years ago, the 63-year-old retired postman was diagnosed with heart failure, and the prognosis given by doctors at the time was not optimistic.
Today, he came for a follow-up appointment, but the results were surprisingly good. Just as Zhang Defu was immersed in surprise, the attending doctor hurriedly walked over, his face full of doubts: "Mr. Zhang, your cardiac function indicators have improved significantly compared with two years ago, what have you eaten during this time?" Zhang Defu listened, and a mysterious smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
Recalling the winter when he learned that he was suffering from heart failure two years ago, Zhang Defu seemed to have returned to that suffocating moment.
As a conscientious postman, he never imagined that he would face such serious health problems shortly after retirement. That sudden breathlessness and severe chest pain made him realize how fragile life is.
Doctors explained in detail the causes of heart failure and treatment options. Only then did Zhang Defu know that his bad lifestyle habits over the years, such as a high-salt and high-fat diet, lack of exercise, and long-term smoking, were all important factors leading to heart failure.
The doctor advised him to make radical lifestyle changes in addition to taking his medication as prescribed.
Faced with the sudden blow, Zhang Defu once fell into deep self-blame and frustration. Just when he felt helpless, he remembered an old Chinese medicine doctor he often met when he was young when he was delivering letters in the mountains.
The old Chinese medicine doctor once recommended to him many times a Chinese herbal medicine - Poria cocos, saying that it has the effect of strengthening the spleen and diluting water and reducing swelling.
With this hazy memory of traditional Chinese medicine, Zhang Defu began to search for information about Poria cocos on the Internet. He was pleasantly surprised to find that a research article had been published in the Chinese Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine exploring the potential benefits of Poria cocos for patients with heart failure. The article pointed out that Poria cocos has the effects of diluting water and reducing swelling, strengthening the spleen and invigorating qi, and may help improve the symptoms of patients with heart failure.
The more Zhang Defu researched, the more hopeful he felt. He learned that Poria cocos is not only believed to be beneficial to the heart and spleen in traditional Chinese medicine theory, but modern medical research has also found that it has a variety of beneficial effects.
A study in the Chinese Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine showed that the polysaccharide components contained in Poria cocos have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which may have a protective effect on the cardiovascular system.
In addition, Poria cocos has a diuretic effect, which is especially important for patients with heart failure. A review in the Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin pointed out that the diuretic effect of Poria cocos can help reduce edema and reduce the burden on the heart, thereby improving the symptoms of heart failure.
Zhang Defu decided to try a conditioning program based on Poria cocos. He began to take Poria cocos every day in a variety of ways: making tea, cooking porridge, and even making snacks. He especially likes to make a Poria white fungus soup, which is both moisturizing and healthy.
Zhang Defu's decision made his son Zhang Xiaoming a little worried. As a young lawyer, Zhang Xiaoming believes in Western medicine. He asked his father, "Does just eating Poria really work?" Do you want to go to the hospital again? "
Zhang Defu patiently explained that he did not stop taking the medicine prescribed by the doctor, but only increased the consumption of Poria cocos on this basis. He also deliberately checked the relevant literature in the Chinese Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases to ensure that there was no obvious interaction between Poria cocos and his medication.
In addition to eating Poria cocos, Zhang Defu also made a comprehensive adjustment to his lifestyle. He quit his years of smoking, reduced his salt and fat intake, and increased the proportion of vegetables and fruits. He also developed the habit of exercising every morning, starting with an initial slow walk and gradually increasing to a brisk walk.
Gradually, Zhang Defu found that his heart failure symptoms had eased. Dyspnea and edema, which had been common before, were significantly reduced. He is also in a better state of mind than before, and is even able to help his neighbors trim the flowers and plants in the yard.
Mr. Zhang's change caught the attention of his neighbors. Aunt Liu, a retired accountant who lives next door, curiously asks him if he has met a miracle doctor. Zhang Defu smiled and shared his experience of "Poria Cocos Nourishing the Heart". After hearing this, Aunt Liu nodded again and again, saying that she had not felt as good as before recently, and decided to try Zhang Defu's method.
In this way, Zhang Defu's "Poria Cocos Heart Cultivation Method" quietly spread in the community. Some elderly neighbors began to follow suit, and the community's small supermarkets even increased the supply of poria cocos. After the community doctor found out, he also talked to Zhang Defu, praised him for paying attention to health preservation, and spread this health awareness to others.
Of course, Zhang Defu also understands that Poria cocos and diet alone cannot solve all problems. He insisted on taking the medication prescribed by his doctor on time every day and checking his blood pressure and heart rate regularly. He also took part in a community-organized Tai Chi class with the advice of his community doctor, both to exercise and to meet new people.
In the past two years, Zhang Defu has not only improved his heart failure symptoms, but also gained more. Together with his son, he studied the health regimen of integrated Chinese and Western medicine, which enhanced the relationship between father and son. He taught health knowledge to his neighbors in the community and became a recognized "health expert" in his neighborhood.
Returning to the hospital examination results, the doctor was surprised to find that Zhang Defu's cardiac function indicators had improved significantly. He curiously asked Zhang Defu how he was conditioning during this time. Zhang Defu smiled and said his "Poria Cocos Heart Nourishing Method".
After hearing this, the doctor thought for a moment and said, "Poria cocos is indeed beneficial to qi and water in the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. Your improvement in symptoms may be the result of a combination of factors, including medication adherence and lifestyle changes, as well as the possible complementary effects of Poria cocos. "
The doctor further explained that although Poria cocos is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, more scientific research is needed to confirm its exact effect on heart failure. He suggested that Zhang Defu should continue to have regular check-ups and pay close attention to changes in his physical condition on the basis of maintaining his current lifestyle.
Zhang Defu listened carefully to the doctor's advice and decided to continue to maintain good living habits in the coming days, and at the same time pay more attention to observing his physical changes. He thought that maybe he could try some other heart-nourishing ingredients recommended by traditional Chinese medicine, such as yam and wolfberry, to make his conditioning regimen more comprehensive.
When he left the hospital, Zhang Defu was in a particularly relaxed mood. He felt that this heart failure was not the end of his life, but the beginning of a new life. He decided to compile his experience into a booklet, hoping to provide some reference for more elderly people with similar problems.
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