Blood pressure keeps getting higher and higher, what's wrong? How can people with high blood pressure spend the winter safely?

Huazi's father was hospitalized because he felt a headache and dizziness after getting up in the morning. When he first measured his blood pressure, it was over 160. He thought it was due to his activities, so he rested and stabilized for a while and measured his blood pressure again. The result was over 170. After that, he measured it many times and it reached over 180.

The old man was worried that his high blood pressure would cause a stroke, so he rushed to the hospital. When his blood pressure was measured in the clinic, it was over 190.

After a CT scan, cerebral hemorrhage was ruled out. When the doctor asked about his condition, the old man had clear thinking, normal speech, and could walk for various examinations, proving that there was no problem with the muscle strength of his limbs, and he should not have had a cerebral infarction. However, for safety reasons, the doctor still arranged for him to be hospitalized for a few days for observation.

1. Why does blood pressure get higher and higher?

When Huazi rushed to the hospital, the director of the neurology department was examining the old man. The old man was most puzzled as to why his blood pressure kept getting higher and higher. What was wrong?

The director of the neurology department told him that he was not the only one and that many hypertensive patients would have their blood pressure increase as time went by. This was because these patients would become nervous when they found their blood pressure increased , and nervousness would cause sympathetic nerve excitement, leading to vasoconstriction, which would further increase blood pressure.

Therefore, it is not recommended to measure blood pressure multiple times in a row . Generally speaking, blood pressure can be measured twice each time. If the difference between the two results exceeds 20 mmHg, measure it for the third time. Then, choose the lower value between the two values ​​that are close to each other.

2. Blood pressure may fluctuate greatly in winter

Blood pressure is easily affected by ambient temperature. In winter, the temperature is cold, and the blood vessels of the human body contract when they are cold, which increases the resistance of blood circulation and increases blood pressure. In winter, the amount of sweating of the human body decreases, and the sodium ions discharged with sweat also decrease, which can also cause blood pressure to rise.

In the north, it is cold outside, but warm inside with heating. The temperature difference between indoors and outdoors is large. Elderly people with hypertension have certain hardening of the arteries, and their ability to regulate blood pressure is weakened, which may cause large fluctuations in blood pressure.

Therefore , people with high blood pressure should pay attention to weather conditions in winter and add or remove clothes in time according to temperature changes . When going out, they should take good warming measures , especially wear masks, hats, gloves, scarves, etc., and pay attention to the protection of these exposed skin parts.

3. Stay safe in winter and take medication regularly

Regular use of antihypertensive drugs is an important means of treating hypertension . Most hypertensive patients need to increase their drug dosage in winter to adapt to the increase in blood pressure in winter.

It is recommended to adjust the medication under the guidance of a doctor, and once the medication regimen is determined, it is necessary to take it consistently . The adjustment cycle of antihypertensive drugs is usually 1 week or longer, and frequent medication adjustments are not recommended . Short-term blood pressure fluctuations will not affect medication. If blood pressure is high or low for more than 1 week, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

For the antihypertensive drugs used, you should read the drug instructions in detail and be familiar with the adverse reactions and precautions. If similar symptoms occur during medication, seek medical attention promptly.

4. Safe wintering requires healthy living

In winter, you should pay attention to a balanced diet. Although it is cold in winter, it is not recommended to eat a lot of hot foods. You must stick to a low-salt diet, and the daily salt intake should not exceed 5 grams ; it is best to choose vegetable oil for cooking oil, and the daily fat intake should not exceed 25 grams ; do not eat too much sweets, and the daily added sugar intake should not exceed 50 grams ; you can replace 1/3 of the staple food with whole grains and beans.

Moderate exercise is allowed in winter, but it is recommended to exercise in the afternoon when the sun is full, rather than in the morning . Because the temperature is usually the lowest in the morning, and blood pressure is highest in the morning due to the "morning peak phenomenon", so the early morning is also the peak period for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Exercise should be avoided in the early morning.

In summary, some people's blood pressure will be higher and higher due to excessive tension when measuring blood pressure, so do not measure blood pressure multiple times in a row. Blood pressure is also prone to large fluctuations in winter. People with high blood pressure should pay attention to keeping warm, and take medication regularly under the guidance of a doctor, adhere to a healthy lifestyle, and spend the cold winter safely.

If you have any questions about medication, please consult a doctor or pharmacist. I am pharmacist Huazi, welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.