Disclaimer: The content of the article is for reference only, the storyline is purely fictional, intended to popularize health knowledge, if you feel unwell, please seek medical attention offline.
The early morning sunlight spilled into the bedroom through the gaps in the curtains, waking up Li Fang from her sleep.
She habitually reached for the water glass on the bedside table, ready to start the day with a big sip of water as usual.
Just as the cup was about to touch her lips, Li Fang suddenly remembered a news headline she saw when she swiped her phone last night: Getting up early to drink water will cause a sharp increase in the risk of heart attack and cerebral infarction?
Her hand froze in mid-air, and countless questions flashed through her mind: Could it be that this habit she had developed over the years was a ticking time bomb? Is waking up early to drink water really life-threatening? How do you stay hydrated safely?
Full of doubts, Li Fang decided to delve into this question. She put down her glass, turned on her computer and began to search for information.
Soon, she discovered that the topic had sparked a wide range of discussions online, with a dizzying variety of opinions.
Just as Li Fang was in a daze, she remembered her college classmate, Dr. Zhang.
As a senior cardiologist, Dr. Zhang will definitely be able to answer her questions. Li Fang immediately dialed Dr. Zhang's phone and agreed to meet in the evening for a detailed discussion.
In the evening, Li Fang came to Dr. Zhang's clinic as promised. Dr. Zhang warmly beckoned her to sit down and said with a smile, "Fang, I heard that you are very interested in drinking water in the morning?"
Li Fang nodded and told Dr. Zhang about her confusion. Dr. Zhang listened carefully, pondered for a moment, and then said, "This issue is indeed worthy of our attention.
Waking up early to drink water is good for your health, but there are some potential risks. We need to know everything in order to make the right judgment. "
Dr. Zhang stood up and walked over to his desk to pull out a stack of papers. I have a few related medical research papers here, let's take a look.
He opened one of them as he spoke. "According to a study published in the Chinese Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases in 2022, early morning is the time of high incidence of cardiovascular events.
This is related to the circadian rhythm of the human body, in the morning the sympathetic nerve is excited, blood pressure increases, blood viscosity increases, and thrombosis is easy to form. "
Li Fang nodded thoughtfully and asked, "Does drinking water aggravate this risk?" "
Dr. Zhang went on to explain, "Drinking water itself does not directly cause a heart attack or cerebral infarction. The problem is how and when to drink water.
Drinking plenty of water quickly can lead to blood thinning, electrolyte imbalances, which in turn can affect heart function.
This is especially important for the elderly or people with underlying medical conditions. "
He flipped to another paper, pointed to the data in it, and said: "A 2023 survey in the Chinese Journal of Circulation found that 6-10 a.m. is the time when the incidence of myocardial infarction is highest, accounting for about 45% of the incidence throughout the day.
This time period happens to be the time when many people drink a lot of water immediately after waking up. "
Li Fang listened attentively and couldn't help asking: "Then what should we do to replenish water and avoid risks?" "
Dr. Zhang smiled and patted her on the shoulder: "Don't worry, we just need to pay attention to the following points, and we can safely enjoy the benefits of waking up early to drink water." "
He folded his fingers and listed them one by one:
"First, don't drink plenty of water immediately after waking up. You can rinse your mouth first, and then drink a small amount of water several times, about 100-200 ml each time. "
"Second, the water temperature should be moderate, preferably between 25-30 degrees. Water that is too cold or too hot can irritate the gastrointestinal tract and affect digestion and absorption. "
"Third, drink water on an empty stomach slowly, preferably with a straw, which can reduce the irritation of the gastric mucosa."
"Fourth, people with underlying diseases such as hypertension and coronary heart disease should be more cautious, and it is recommended to drink a small amount of water after taking morning medication."
"Fifth, maintain a good routine and avoid staying up late. Getting enough sleep helps to maintain the normal functioning of various body functions. "
Li Fang carefully wrote down these suggestions, and felt suddenly enlightened. She looked at Dr. Zhang gratefully, "Thank you so much! This information is so useful. "
Dr. Zhang smiled and said, "You're welcome, these are conclusions based on scientific research.
For example, a long-term follow-up study published in the Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2021 showed that following a scientific way of drinking water can reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease by about 20%. "
He paused, then added: "Of course, everyone's physical condition is different, and the specific drinking water plan still needs to be formulated according to individual circumstances. If you feel unwell, be sure to seek medical attention promptly. "
Li Fang nodded thoughtfully: "I understand." It seems that the key is to replenish water scientifically and reasonably, rather than blindly drinking a lot of water. "
Dr. Zhang agreed, "That's right. Drinking water in moderation does have many benefits, such as boosting metabolism and helping to flush out toxins from the body.
A 2023 study in the Journal of Nutrition showed that drinking a moderate amount of water in the morning can increase the body's basal metabolic rate by 5-10%. "
He continued: "In addition, drinking water in moderation can also improve constipation.
A 2022 survey by the Chinese Journal of Digestion found that people who developed the habit of drinking water in the morning had a about 30% lower incidence of constipation than those who did not drink water. "
Li Fang nodded again and again when she heard this, and suddenly thought of something: "By the way, I heard that it is better to drink warm boiled water than plain water, is that true?" "
Dr. Zhang explains: "There is some truth to this statement. The temperature of warm boiled water is close to the body's body temperature and is more easily absorbed.
A 2023 study in the Journal of the Chinese Nutrition Society showed that drinking warm water at around 37 degrees has a 15-20% higher absorption rate than cold water. "
Li Fang suddenly realized: "I see! Looks like I'm going to have to prepare a thermos cup in the future. "
Dr. Zhang smiled and said, "That's a good idea. However, keep in mind that the temperature of the water in the thermos cup should be moderate, as drinking too hot water for a long time may increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
A 2021 study in the Chinese Journal of Oncology suggests this. "
Li Fang nodded seriously: "I'll pay attention." I really didn't expect that there is so much knowledge in the seemingly simple drinking water. "
Dr. Zhang said gently, "Yes, many seemingly ordinary things in life have profound scientific truths behind them. It's important that we stay curious and keep learning and exploring. "
Li Fang said with deep feeling: "That's true. I have learned a lot from this conversation today. I will definitely share this knowledge with the people around me so that more people can benefit. "
Dr. Zhang smiled with satisfaction: "This is our original intention to study medicine." Knowledge can only be of greatest value when it is disseminated. "
The two chatted for a while, and Li Fang got up to say goodbye. Walking out of the clinic, she felt much more at ease. She decided to adjust her drinking habits from tomorrow onwards as Dr. Zhang advised.
On the way home, Li Fang met her neighbor, Aunt Wang. Aunt Wang was walking her dog, and when she saw Li Fang, she greeted her warmly: "Xiao Li, are you still out for a walk so late?" "
Li Fang responded with a smile: "Hello Aunt Wang! I just got back from a friend and learned a lot about waking up early to drink water. "
Aunt Wang became interested: "Oh? Tell me about it, I drink a big glass of water every morning, and I heard that it is good for my health. "
Li Fang briefly shared the knowledge she had just learned with Aunt Wang. After hearing this, Aunt Wang said in surprise: "I didn't know there were so many exquisitenesses!" Looks like I'm going to have to change the way I drink water. "
Li Fang encouraged: "Yes, a healthy lifestyle requires us to constantly learn and adjust. If you want to know more, you can check out the articles in authoritative medical journals that have a lot of useful information. "
Aunt Wang said gratefully, "Thank you, Xiao Li." It's great that you're not only learning on your own, but you're also enthusiastic about sharing it with us seniors. "
Li Fang said modestly: "Yes, Aunt Wang." Let's share with each other and make progress together. "
Saying goodbye to Aunt Wang, Li Fang continued to walk home. She secretly made up her mind to compile the knowledge she learned today into an article and post it on the community forum, so that more people can understand the importance of scientific drinking water.
Walking to the door, Li Fang took out the key, and the outline of the article had already begun to be conceived in his mind.
She believes that through continuous learning and sharing, everyone can play their part in creating a healthier society.
Pushing open the door, Li Fang took a deep breath and felt unprecedented fulfillment and relief. She is looking forward to the arrival of tomorrow, to welcome a new day, and to start a better life in a more scientific and healthy way.