Nowadays, as the economic level continues to rise, people’s choices in diet are becoming more diverse. It is in this context that the number of hypertensive patients in our country is also growing rapidly, showing a clear trend towards younger individuals.
The occurrence of hypertension is often closely related to the unhealthy lifestyle and dietary habits developed by patients in their daily lives. For hypertensive patients, stabilizing their condition often requires long-term use of antihypertensive drugs to control their blood pressure fluctuations. In addition, in terms of diet, patients also need to strictly avoid certain foods, as otherwise, it can easily lead to unstable blood pressure.
The continuous rise in blood pressure levels in the body is harmful in many ways. If the blood pressure levels remain high for a long time, the burden on the left ventricle of the heart will continue to deepen. Patients may also develop hypertensive heart disease due to compensation, which can lead to the left ventricle expanding or thickening continuously. Failure to take timely measures to control this progression may lead to heart failure.
In addition, prolonged high blood pressure levels in the body can also increase the risk of coronary heart disease. When the thickness of the left ventricle of the heart continuously increases, it is prone to conditions like myocardial ischemia or angina, posing a significant threat to the patient’s health.
Furthermore, relevant clinical statistics indicate that over 80% of stroke patients are closely related to hypertension. Therefore, controlling blood pressure in good condition in daily life can not only prevent strokes effectively but also have a significant positive impact on stroke treatment.
If a woman develops hypertension during pregnancy, the risk during childbirth will also significantly increase.
For hypertensive patients who are on long-term antihypertensive medication, what should they pay attention to in their diet? According to doctors, patients on long-term antihypertensive medications should avoid the following 4 types of foods as early as possible:
1. Greasy foods
In daily life, most people are fond of high-fat foods such as braised pork, barbecue, fried chicken, etc. While these foods are delicious and satisfying to the taste buds, they are detrimental to blood pressure control. Excessive intake of fats in the body stimulates the metabolism of lipid substances, which can be detrimental to blood pressure, especially if consumed after taking antihypertensive drugs.
2. Alcoholic beverages
For hypertensive patients, drinking alcohol may cause alcohol to enter the microcirculation of blood vessels, leading to arterial vasodilation and a significant decrease in blood pressure levels. If the patient drinks alcohol while taking antihypertensive drugs, the chances of experiencing adverse reactions such as low blood pressure increase significantly.
3. Pickled foods
Many people enjoy consuming pickled foods like pickles, salted duck eggs, pickled fish, and bacon, among others. These foods contain a large amount of salt during the production process, which can easily increase the sodium ion levels in the blood and raise blood pressure levels. Patients who persist in taking antihypertensive drugs should avoid pickled foods to ensure the optimal effectiveness of the medication.
4. Grapefruits
Grapefruits are nutritionally valuable fruits with a sweet and sour taste that satisfies many people’s taste preferences. However, for hypertensive patients taking antihypertensive medication, it is advisable to consume grapefruits in moderation. Components like naringin in grapefruits can interfere with the effectiveness of the drugs and may cause a sudden drop in blood pressure levels, leading to various adverse effects.
【This text and images are exclusively created by “Qianjinfang” new media, author Zi Yi. Please do not reprint or copy without authorization.】
