Hypertension is a very common “chronic cardiovascular disease” in normal times. Hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia are collectively referred to as the “three highs,” and these diseases are also known as the “killers of human health.”
Once diagnosed with hypertension, it cannot be easily cured. It requires combining a healthy lifestyle and dietary habits to maintain the balance of blood pressure in the body.
In fact, besides taking medication on time, hypertensive patients should also develop good dietary habits. As the saying goes, “Illness comes from the mouth.” In addition to medication, it is necessary to combine a sensible diet to achieve a “double effect with half the effort.”
The blood pressure standard for 2024 has been announced and is no longer 120/80mmHg.
Against this backdrop, the country has made timely adjustments to the blood pressure health standards. Now, the diagnostic criteria for hypertension have been updated from the previous 120/80mmHg to 130/85mmHg.
This means that systolic blood pressure between 130 and 139mmHg and diastolic blood pressure between 85 and 89mmHg have been redefined as the normal blood pressure range.
High blood pressure, can you eat garlic?
Garlic contains rich nutrients, tastes spicy, but can remove excess oxygen free radicals in the body, and increase the body’s metabolism rate.
In addition, garlic contains abundant allicin and dietary fiber, which can promote gastrointestinal peristalsis, reduce the detoxification burden on the liver, improve liver activity, and quickly excrete metabolic waste and lipid substances from the body.
However, due to the strong irritant properties of garlic, it can easily cause abnormal excitement of the nerves and stimulate blood circulation excessively. Therefore, attention should be paid to controlling the intake.
Doctor’s advice: To stabilize blood pressure, stay away from these 6 vegetarian foods as soon as possible.
1. Chilies
Chilies themselves are highly stimulating foods. Eating spicy foods often can cause discomfort in the mouth. Therefore, hypertensive patients should try to avoid eating chilies if they want a more stable condition. When cooking chilies, oil and salt are usually used in large quantities. Hypertensive patients should consume less oil and salt to avoid more noticeable fluctuations in blood pressure.
2. Chinese toon
Chinese toon is a very common dish in daily life. Stir-fried Chinese toon with eggs is a popular and nutritious food on people’s dining tables. Nutritionists have pointed out that Chinese toon is a “stimulant.”
It is not recommended for patients with kidney yin deficiency or liver diseases to eat such foods. Eating Chinese toon frequently can cause sodium imbalance in the body, induce acid-base balance disorders, and rapidly increase blood pressure.
3. Pickled vegetables
Many people like to eat pickled vegetables, such as pickled cucumbers, pickled radishes, etc. Pickled cucumbers have a fresh taste and are very delicious, and they are also appetizing. However, pickled foods contain a lot of salt. Hypertensive patients need to limit their salt intake, so they should try to consume less pickled vegetables.
4. Dried bean curd
Dried bean curd is a food made from tofu through processing. It has a chewy texture and is well-loved. However, dried bean curd contains a lot of salt and fat. Excessive intake can lead to high sodium and fat content in the body, thereby increasing blood pressure levels.
In addition, additives and preservatives in dried bean curd may also have adverse effects on health. Therefore, hypertensive patients should consume dried bean curd in moderation to avoid blood pressure fluctuations.
5. Fennel
Fennel is used as a spice to add flavor to cooking. However, fennel contains high levels of sodium, which is not suitable for hypertensive patients. Long-term excessive consumption of fennel may lead to increased blood pressure. Therefore, hypertensive patients should try to avoid fennel when choosing ingredients.
6. Nuts
Nuts such as peanuts, melon seeds, walnuts, and pistachios contain high-quality protein, plant-based dietary fiber, and vitamin components, which help replenish the body’s energy deficiency. The amino acid components they contain also help improve the skin’s surface antioxidant ability, slowing down the aging process.
However, it is not recommended for people with high blood pressure to eat nuts for a long time to prevent a large amount of fat from settling on the surface of blood vessels, disrupting their own recovery. It is also important to control the amount consumed during the eating process.
For hypertensive patients, remember these 5 measures to lower blood pressure and prevent complications.
1. Follow medical advice for medication
Hypertension is a controllable disease that requires continuous medication for treatment. Therefore, after being diagnosed, even if the patient’s blood pressure is relatively stable, they should follow the medical instructions to take antihypertensive medication on time and in the prescribed dosage for treatment.
If medication is reduced or discontinued without medical advice, the blood pressure value may rise rapidly in the short term, which can easily trigger acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
2. Learn to reduce stress
Nowadays, people face significant stress in life and family. If these negative pressures are not promptly addressed, they can stimulate the secretion of adrenaline and cortisone in the body, accelerating heart rate;
This can cause vasoconstriction and subsequently elevate blood pressure. Therefore, individuals must learn to reduce stress. When feeling highly stressed, one can choose to shout loudly or listen to music to eliminate internal pressure.
3. Engage in aerobic exercise
Adopting an aerobic exercise regimen can promote digestion and blood circulation. In particular, brisk walking can help control blood pressure levels.
After all, brisk walking is one of the means to lower blood pressure and can also regulate breathing levels. Even if there is no habit of brisk walking in daily life, it can be helpful to engage in brisk walking half an hour after a meal to lower blood pressure.
4. Drink tea in moderation
Tea contains a large number of tea polyphenols and potassium, which can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, drinking tea can help control blood pressure and prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, especially black tea and green tea. However, excessive consumption of strong tea can overstimulate the brain and cause excessive fluctuations in blood pressure.
5. Avoid staying up late
With the popularization of electronic products, more and more people have developed the habit of playing with their phones before going to bed. Long-term staying up late is definitely detrimental to health. With the body in a state of exhaustion for a long time and insufficient sleep, blood pressure may rise.
Therefore, hypertensive patients should pay attention to rest, ensure sufficient sleep, refrain from watching exciting programs before bed, and maintain a calm mindset to improve sleep quality.
Hypertension is a chronic disease that requires long-term recuperation for relief. Therefore, patients must promptly adjust their lifestyles so that hypertension remains in a state of no recurrence.
