From January 19th to 22nd, Hunan experienced its first cold wave and low-temperature rain, snow, and freezing weather of the year. This wave of weather may freeze hands and feet, as well as the heart and brain. Why does a cold wave affect cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health? Which groups of people need special attention and how to protect them? Zeng Yan, the chief physician of the first department at Hunan Provincial Institute of Occupational Disease Prevention and Control (Affiliated Institute of Occupational Disease Prevention and Control of Nanhua University), provided a detailed explanation. As temperatures drop, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases enter a high incidence period, and strengthening the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases is particularly important. ”Zeng Yan explained that the short-term rapid cooling caused by the cold wave has a significant impact on the human body. Low temperature strikes, and when the human body is exposed to a cold environment, in order to reduce heat loss, skin blood vessels will rapidly contract to reduce heat loss. This can lead to an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, and the heart needs to pump more vigorously to maintain body temperature and organ blood supply. The cardiac load increases sharply, thereby increasing the chance of cardiovascular disease. Data shows that for every 10 ℃ decrease in outdoor temperature, the average systolic blood pressure can increase by nearly 7mmHg (millimeters of mercury). During the cold wave, the risk of acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular accidents significantly increases. For people with hypertension and atherosclerosis, their blood vessels have poor elasticity and cannot effectively buffer pressure changes, so blood pressure fluctuations will be more intense; Low temperature can increase the level of fibrinogen in the blood, increase blood viscosity, make platelets more prone to aggregation, and significantly increase the risk of thrombosis. These changes, when combined, are like adding insult to injury to the heart and vascular system, which may trigger myocardial ischemia, angina, and even lead to plaque rupture and thrombus formation, causing myocardial infarction or stroke. In addition, due to the cold, the body needs to consume energy to generate heat, and people will unconsciously consume more high calorie foods, leading to an increase in blood viscosity, increased burden on the heart, and an increased chance of acute myocardial infarction. A damp and cold environment can also weaken the immune system function of the human body, making it easier for viruses such as influenza to take advantage. Low temperature directly stimulates the respiratory mucosa, which not only increases the risk of infection and transmission of respiratory infectious diseases such as influenza and pneumonia, but may also trigger acute attacks of respiratory chronic diseases such as bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cold weather and reduced sunlight make people more prone to emotional fluctuations, and negative emotions such as anxiety and depression are also risk factors for new cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. If the following symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately: respiratory alarm, high fever exceeding 39 ℃ or high fever lasting for more than 3 days, difficulty breathing, chest pain; Heart and brain alarms, such as sudden chest tightness, chest pain, dizziness, limb numbness, and unclear speech. If there is sudden tearing pain in the chest or back that is difficult to relieve, accompanied by sweating all over the body, it may be aortic dissection and life-threatening. At this time, do not move around and call 120 to seek medical treatment in a timely manner. These groups of people should pay special attention to protection against cold waves. Patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, the elderly, children, pregnant women, and outdoor workers should pay special attention to protection. ”Zeng Yan said. The temperature has dropped significantly, and people with underlying cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are more likely to experience related conditions. These aspects should be noted: keep warm, avoid exposing your head and neck, and wear hats and scarves when going out; Wake up slowly. Early morning is a high-risk period for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular accidents. Lie down for a while after waking up, slowly sit up, sit for a few minutes, and then stand up to give the blood vessels time to adapt; Monitor frequently, strictly follow medical advice to take medication, and regularly measure blood pressure. If blood pressure continues to fluctuate or symptoms such as chest tightness, chest pain, and dizziness occur, seek medical attention promptly; Prevent constipation, have a light diet, eat more fruits and vegetables, avoid straining during bowel movements, and reduce the burden on the heart. For the elderly, it is recommended to reduce going out, prevent slipping and falling, install handrails indoors, and keep the ground dry; Children should add clothes in a timely manner, focus on protecting their head, neck, hands and feet, and avoid playing on icy roads; Pregnant women should take good care of their abdomen, waist, and feet, choose non slip shoes, avoid crowded places, wash hands frequently, and ventilate more. Outdoor workers should adopt the "three-layer dressing method" of breathable inner layer, warm middle layer, and windproof and waterproof outer layer. They should wear cold and waterproof work clothes, anti slip shoes, gloves, hats, etc; Avoid prolonged outdoor work, increase the frequency of breaks during work, and try to enter warm indoor areas during breaks; Prepare warm high protein, high calorie foods and drinks to help maintain body temperature. To take good care of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, the first step is to keep warm. In cold weather, we can actively cope with cooling and reduce the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases through some measures. ”Zeng Yan reminds that keeping warm is the top priority, especially for the head and neck. The neck is a necessary passage for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and is the "fortress" of the body. Once exposed to cold, it may cause a series of health problems such as cervical spondylosis and cerebrovascular diseases. You can choose warm clothes such as high necked sweaters and scarves to reduce the area of the neck exposed to cold air. The other three parts of the body should also pay attention to keeping warm: the feet are the farthest part of the human body from the heart, with relatively less blood supply, thin surface fat, poor insulation ability, and cold and humid air easily entering the body from the feet; The abdomen is a concentrated area of internal organs in the human body and is highly sensitive to temperature changes; Catching a cold in the lower back can not only cause back pain, but also affect the muscles, joints, and internal organs of the upper and lower limbs through the cervical and lumbar vertebrae, leading to various discomforts. In addition to keeping clothes warm, moderate exercise can also increase the body's blood circulation and metabolism, thereby generating heat and allowing the body to quickly adapt to the cold. Blood vessels are particularly prone to spasms when the temperature is too low in the morning and evening, so it is best to exercise from 9am to 3pm. Reasonable diet, consume more fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, etc., and eat less high calorie, high salt, and high sugar foods to ensure a balanced nutrition. Maintain a positive mindset, avoid emotional fluctuations, maintain an optimistic attitude towards life, and avoid being overly excited, angry, or sad. Strengthen self-management, patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases should monitor indicators such as self measured blood pressure and blood sugar, and heart failure patients should also monitor weight, fluid intake and output, etc. Follow the doctor's advice to take medication on time, and do not adjust the dosage or stop taking medication without authorization; Regularly monitor indicators such as blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar. If there are significant fluctuations, seek medical attention promptly. On a cold wave day, we need to remember some things not to do. For example, do not wake up abruptly in the morning. Getting up too quickly can lead to dizziness, palpitations, orthostatic hypotension, and even cardiovascular accidents. After waking up in the morning, it is recommended to lie down for a few minutes, sit by the bed for a while, and then wake up to give the blood vessels and heart a buffer time; Do not rely on drinking alcohol to keep warm, do not hold urine or forcefully defecate, and do not neglect keeping your head warm; Do not exercise vigorously in severe cold, otherwise it will increase the burden on the heart, leading to insufficient oxygen supply, heart ischemia, and even the possibility of myocardial infarction. ”Zeng Yan reminds citizens to closely monitor weather changes and make reasonable arrangements for their daily lives. (New Society)