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In a typical city hospital consultation room, Aunt Zhang, a 70-year-old retired teacher, sat pale-faced in a wheelchair, listening to the doctor’s explanation. She was diagnosed with a cerebral thrombosis five months ago, and the situation has not been very optimistic.
The doctor glanced at the worried family members around, and softly said, “Aunt Zhang, I know this is not easy for you, but we need to talk about your dietary habits. Your food choices may be a key factor in this health crisis.”
Aunt Zhang’s daughter couldn’t help but interject, “Doctor, my mom usually likes to eat salty fish, pickled vegetables, is that wrong?”
The doctor nodded gently and explained in a friendly tone, “Yes, look at these foods, high in salt, high in oil, and lacking in nutrition. These are indeed areas we need to be cautious about.
Especially for elderly people like your mother, these foods – salty fish, pickled vegetables, smoked meat, and high-fat red meat – frequent consumption of such items significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.”
Aunt Zhang’s eyes revealed a hint of guilt, and she replied softly, “I used to think these were just habits, and never thought they would affect my health.”
The doctor continued, “Many elderly people believe these are just normal dietary habits, but in reality, they exert significant pressure on the vessels, especially the cerebral vessels.
High salt intake can lead to high blood pressure, and prolonged consumption of high-salt foods is a significant factor in triggering cerebral thrombosis. And high-fat foods, such as smoked meat and some red meat, contain large amounts of saturated fats and cholesterol, all of which are causes of cardiovascular diseases.”
Aunt Zhang’s son frowned and asked, “Doctor, how should we adjust our diet then?”
The doctor gently suggested, “Firstly, we should try to consume fewer high-salt foods like salty fish and pickled vegetables. Next, eat more vegetables and fruits; these are good stuff rich in vitamins and minerals, aiding the body in reducing inflammation and benefiting the blood vessels.
“Then, try using plant-based oil, like olive oil, to replace animal fats such as lard. Lastly, don’t forget to stay active, such as taking walks, doing light exercises, which are also very beneficial for the body.”
In the following months, Aunt Zhang’s family began adjusting their diet according to the doctor’s advice and gradually saw some positive changes. Aunt Zhang’s blood pressure decreased, and her overall condition improved slightly.
Five months later, although Aunt Zhang was unable to overcome the illness due to the problems accumulated from her past lifestyle habits, her experience became a lesson for the younger generation in the family.
They realized the importance of a healthy lifestyle and proper dietary habits in maintaining health. Thus, after Aunt Zhang’s passing, they initiated several activities on healthy eating.
These activities included lectures and cooking classes, with nutrition experts and doctors invited to share how to build healthy dietary habits and how correct nutrition can help us keep away from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
These activities received strong support from the community residents. Many people began to reevaluate their dietary habits, reducing the intake of high salt and high-fat foods, and opting for a more balanced and healthy diet.
Community awareness of health significantly increased, and residents started experiencing positive changes from living a healthy lifestyle. At a community gathering, Aunt Zhang’s granddaughter shared her grandmother’s story.
She said, “Although we cannot change the past, we can influence the future through today’s choices. Grandmother’s experience taught us a lot, most importantly, to cherish and maintain our health.”
Subsequently, a community resident posed a question, “Doctor, how should we balance our daily diet to ensure we receive enough nutrition while also preventing diseases?”
The doctor explained in detail, “Firstly, ensure a diverse diet, consuming more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and quality proteins. Next, you also need to change the type of oil you use for cooking.”
“Choose plant-based oils; those are good for the body. And finally, engage in regular physical activity, which is beneficial for your body overall.”
Through Aunt Zhang’s story and the doctor’s advice, community residents gained valuable knowledge on maintaining themselves and their family’s health through small changes in daily life.
Although Aunt Zhang’s life ended, her story and lessons left a lasting impact in the community, inspiring everyone to cherish life and strive for health.
What are your thoughts on Aunt Zhang’s passing due to cerebral thrombosis? Feel free to discuss in the comments section!
