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Some say that not eating garlic and chili can prevent blood clots from forming. Have you ever heard of such an incredible thing?
Actually, there are many opinions and misconceptions about the relationship between blood clots and diet. We will explain this concept through an imaginary story, making popular science more interesting.
Let’s start with a fictional story about Xiao Hu, a taxi driver in his forties who has a habit of eating garlic and chili with every meal. However, in recent years, Xiao Hu has become concerned about his health as the doctor diagnosed him with blood clots.
By chance, he heard from a distant relative that eating garlic and chili might worsen the situation of blood clots. Since then, Xiao Hu has started to change his dietary habits and decided to try not eating these two things.
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Time flies, half a year has passed. Xiao Hu goes to the hospital regularly for check-ups. The doctor informed him that although his blood lipids have decreased, there doesn’t seem to be direct evidence showing that stopping garlic and chili consumption has a significant impact on blood clots.
Xiao Hu is a bit confused because he thought changing his dietary habits would lead to a noticeable change, but the reality is not so simple.
You may wonder whether eating or not eating garlic and chili has any effect on blood clots?
Actually, it is somewhat helpful because some natural components they contain can help lower cholesterol levels and reduce platelet aggregation in the blood, which is beneficial for preventing blood clot formation.
As for chili, the capsaicin it contains can promote blood circulation, which can have a certain protective effect on vascular health.
The key here is to have a balanced diet structure. Single foods or components are unlikely to directly determine the formation of blood clots. Instead, overall lifestyle factors such as regular exercise, weight control, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol intake are crucial.
So what does Xiao Hu’s situation tell us? When it comes to making health choices, we need to have a scientific attitude. It is essential not to make decisions based solely on one or two opinions. Changing lifestyle habits, especially dietary habits, requires patience, perseverance, and preferably under the guidance of a doctor.
When it comes to maintaining vascular health, many people’s first reaction may be to lower cholesterol, avoid oily foods, or engage in more physical activities. However, besides these conventional methods, there are some unique strategies that you may not have considered but are highly effective in helping us stay away from the threat of blood clots. Below, I will use a few fictional examples to talk about these unique perspectives.
You may not know that temperature directly affects blood vessels. When the external temperature is too low, the body’s blood vessels naturally contract as a self-protection mechanism to reduce heat loss.
However, for those at risk of blood clots, excessive blood vessel constriction may slow down blood flow, increasing the risk of blood clot formation, especially in winter, so staying warm becomes particularly important.
Imagine a fictional middle-aged person, let’s call him “Ming.” Ming lives in a small northern city where winters are very cold. He has high blood pressure issues and a history of blood clot formation.
The doctor specifically warned him to stay warm in winter to prevent cold weather from affecting his blood vessels.
Following the advice, Ming ensures that his home is always at a suitable temperature and frequently soaks his feet to promote blood circulation. As a result, he no longer feels the coldness in his hands and feet or the heaviness in his legs that he used to experience throughout the winter.
Although everyone is familiar with the benefits of drinking water, in terms of vascular health, ensuring adequate hydration is even more critical than imagined. Sufficient hydration in the bloodstream can effectively reduce blood viscosity and decrease the chance of blood clot formation.
Especially for those not in the habit of drinking much water, changing this habit has a significant effect on preventing blood clots.
Now let’s consider another example. Imagine a white-collar worker in an office, let’s call her “Lina.” Lina is extremely busy at work, often forgetting to drink water due to continuous hours of work.
Later, she noticed mild varicose veins, which made her start to pay attention to her water intake. Following the doctor’s advice, Lina began drinking water at scheduled times, ensuring she drinks at least 2000 ml of water each day by consuming 250 ml of water before each meal. After a few months, she felt a noticeable reduction in the discomfort in her legs, along with significantly decreased fatigue.
An often overlooked aspect is “emotional management.” Modern life’s tremendous stress can lead to increased secretion of stress hormones, not only raising blood pressure but also accelerating blood circulation and increasing blood viscosity, thereby raising the risk of blood clots.
Suppose there is a fictional character named “Lao Wang.” Lao Wang faces extreme work pressure, often working late into the night, making him feel anxious and restless due to long-term mental stress.
In a health check, the doctor found his blood pressure was high and recommended him to engage in relaxing activities such as yoga, meditation, etc. Lao Wang began to meditate for half an hour every night, gradually realizing an improvement in his sleep quality and a stabilization in his blood pressure.
All these examples aim to show you that some methods for preventing blood clots may not be obvious in daily life, but their effects are significant.
By adjusting some details in life, we can effectively and easily prevent blood clots and maintain vascular health.
When it comes to how older people can prevent blood clots, you may think of traditional methods such as medication and dietary control. However, besides these, there are other effective prevention measures you may not have considered.
Let’s talk about “pre-meal activities” for the elderly. Most people sit directly to eat before meals.
However, for the elderly, engaging in appropriate physical activities before meals, such as a leisurely walk or simple stretching, can significantly improve blood circulation and prevent post-meal increases in blood viscosity. This method is simple to implement, yet it’s often overlooked.
Imagine a fictional elderly person, “Old Lin,” who is in his seventies with a slight history of heart disease and high blood pressure.
His doctor suggested that he could engage in a 10-minute leisurely walk before each meal. Old Lin followed the advice and walked around a nearby park before meals every day.
After several months, he noticed his blood pressure became more stable, and he no longer felt his legs and feet as heavy and fatigued as before.
Let’s look at “pre-meal hydration.” Many elderly people may not frequently replenish fluids due to various reasons, but consuming water before meals can help improve blood fluidity and prevent blood clots.
Especially for elderly individuals who tend to forget to drink water, drinking water before meals at a set time is a beneficial habit.
For instance, let’s create a fictional elderly lady, “Grandma Wang,” who has diabetes and high blood pressure issues, often forgetting to drink water, leading to occasional dizziness.
Her family devised a simple plan for her: drink a glass of warm water half an hour before each meal. After adhering to this habit, Grandma Wang found that her blood sugar and blood pressure were better controlled, and she experienced much less dizziness.
These methods may sound simple or even commonplace, but they have a practical effect on maintaining vascular health and preventing blood clots in the elderly.
By incorporating simple pre-meal activities, we can not only promote physical health but also enhance the quality of life. I hope these tips can help more elderly friends so that everyone can enjoy a healthy life in old age.
What are your thoughts on blood clots? Feel free to discuss in the comments section!
References:
[1] Wang Yanyun, Ma Caihong, Wang Yan, et al. Systematic evaluation of the risk prediction model for deep vein thrombosis in patients with stroke[J]. General Nursing, 2024, 22(16): 2985-2992.
