Habits that can cause sudden death in people with high blood pressure.
These seemingly harmless habits can actually be "killers" that cause strokes, potentially leading to coma, critical condition, and even death in many cases, people with high blood pressure.
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According to statistics from the emergency department of Military Central Hospital 108, up to 62% of stroke emergency cases occur in the morning hours from 5 am to 8 am. Many people are in a coma, in critical condition, and some even die due to arriving at the emergency room too late.
Getting out of bed suddenly
Normally, the body's blood pressure is at its lowest around 3 a.m., then gradually rises and increases rapidly upon waking. Therefore, getting out of bed too quickly or hastily in the morning is extremely dangerous, as it increases blood pressure, heart rate, and causes a sudden spike in blood pressure.
This is especially true for patients with a history of arteriosclerosis. The reason is that sudden changes in posture can cause insufficient blood supply to the brain, easily leading to fainting or even stroke.
Many people with high blood pressure still maintain the habit of exercising early in the morning, around 5:00-5:30 AM. However, health experts say that this is a time when there is a significant difference between the outside temperature and the temperature inside the bedroom, especially during the cold season.
Sudden exposure to cold can trigger several reactions in the body: blood vessels constrict, blood circulation is impaired, causing already high morning blood pressure to rise even faster, thereby increasing the risk of stroke.
Carelessly standing in a drafty spot right after waking up.
In reality, many people with high blood pressure have suffered strokes at home due to being exposed to "cold drafts" in the early morning. This is because patients often have the habit of opening windows and doors to ventilate their homes after waking up, without checking if the wind outside is strong enough.
Especially in apartment buildings and narrow townhouses, which are prone to drafts, or during transitional seasons with unpredictable rain and sunshine, cold winds, and morning mist, strong gusts of wind are common in the mornings. The body cannot adapt quickly enough, leading to dizziness, loss of balance, and sudden increases in blood pressure. In severe cases, the patient may faint or suffer a stroke on the spot.
Only take medication when you see your blood pressure rising.
Professor Nguyen Lan Viet – President of the Vietnam Cardiology Association – stated that many people still underestimate high blood pressure. They only take medication when their blood pressure rises, and do not have the habit of taking medication and measuring their blood pressure daily. To best control blood pressure, it is recommended to measure it twice a day at specific times to manage it effectively.
Furthermore, since this is a chronic disease, regular monitoring, proper and complete daily treatment, and long-term treatment are necessary; the treatment goal is to achieve "target blood pressure" and minimize "cardiovascular risk"; the target blood pressure should be below 140/90 mmHg and even lower if the patient can tolerate it.
Even after achieving normal blood pressure, people with hypertension still need daily treatment to maintain it. This is a lifelong condition. What cardiovascular specialists are concerned about and warn hypertensive patients, especially young patients, about is their failure to give up habits that negatively affect their blood pressure.
Eating without restraint
When suffering from hypertension, in addition to medication, patients need to actively change their lifestyle to manage the condition. This includes a balanced diet that ensures sufficient potassium and trace elements: reducing salt intake (less than 6g of salt or 1 teaspoon of salt per day), increasing consumption of green vegetables and fresh fruits, and limiting foods high in cholesterol and saturated fatty acids.
If a patient is overweight or obese, they should actively lose weight to maintain an ideal weight with a BMI between 18.5 and 23 kg/m².2Try to maintain a waist circumference of less than 90cm for men and less than 80cm for women.
Limit your alcohol consumption.
Less than 3 drinks/day (men), less than 2 drinks/day (women), and a total of less than 14 drinks/week (men), less than 9 drinks/week (women): a standard drink is equivalent to 340ml of beer or 140ml of wine, or 40ml of spirits. Completely stop smoking cigarettes or pipe tobacco.
Increase physical activity at an appropriate level: exercise, walking, or moderate physical activity regularly for about 30-60 minutes each day. Avoid anxiety and nervous tension; ensure adequate relaxation and rest. Avoid sudden exposure to cold.
