Eat more salt to have the strength to work? Wrong!

A healthy lifestyle should be promoted to protect patients with hypertension!

Liu Jianyong (general practitioner), Wantouqiao Town Central Hospital, Wugang City

There is a rumor among the common people: "Eat more salt to have the strength to work"! Is this true? Wrong! In fact, it is a pure rumor! Eating more salt will not increase the strength to work, but will only increase the cardiovascular capacity load, leading to increased blood pressure, etc. Failure to effectively control weight and salt intake, excessive drinking and not quitting smoking can lead to refractory hypertension. Therefore, while taking medication, patients with hypertension should promote a healthy lifestyle: limit salt intake, lose weight, exercise more, quit smoking, limit alcohol intake, and keep a calm mind to protect their health!

Hypertension is the most important risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and it can easily lead to complications such as stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure, uremia, etc., with high disability and mortality rates.

If systolic blood pressure is ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure is ≥90 mmHg on three different days without taking antihypertensive drugs, hypertension can be diagnosed. If antihypertensive drugs are currently being used, even if the blood pressure is lower than 140/90 mmHg, hypertension should still be diagnosed.

Hypertension is mainly manifested by dizziness, headache, blurred vision, chest tightness, fatigue, frequent urination at night, etc., but some patients have no conscious symptoms, so hypertension is also called the "silent killer". People over middle age must know their blood pressure level, especially when they feel uncomfortable due to work stress, fatigue, etc., they should measure their blood pressure in time.

The main risk factors for hypertension include: high-salt diet, overweight and obesity, lack of physical activity, high blood lipids, smoking, excessive drinking, long-term mental stress, as well as advanced age and genetic factors.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle and actively seeking treatment will definitely help lower blood pressure and cardiovascular risks, delay the occurrence and development of complications, reduce damage to target organs such as the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels, promote physical recovery, and improve quality of life.

Therapeutic healthy lifestyle intervention is applicable to all patients with hypertension. The main measures include: control your diet, exercise, keep a calm mind, and sleep well.

① Lose weight: Keep BMI (body mass index) under 24kg/m2 as much as possible, waist circumference: <90cm for men, <85cm for women. Weight loss is beneficial for improving insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia and left ventricular hypertrophy; the systolic blood pressure reduction effect can be achieved: 5-20mmHg/10kg weight loss.

② Reduce sodium intake: About 80% of the sodium in the diet comes from cooking salt and various pickled products, so you should reduce cooking salt, eat less pickles, pickled foods, and preserved vegetables. The daily salt intake per person should not exceed 6g (about a beer bottle cap), and pay attention to the intake of hidden salt (chicken essence, soy sauce, monosodium glutamate, chili oil, hot sauce, bean paste, etc.). The systolic blood pressure reduction effect can be obtained: 2 to 8 mmHg.

③Supplement potassium salt: Eat fresh vegetables, fruits, beans and other potassium-rich foods every day.

④ Reduce fat intake: Reduce the intake of cooking oil, eat less or no fatty meat and animal offal, fried cakes, fried dough sticks and other high-fat foods.

⑤ Quit smoking scientifically (avoid passive smoking at the same time) and limit alcohol consumption;

⑥ Regular exercise: patients with stable conditions can, under the guidance of a doctor and according to their physical condition, choose light to moderate intensity (slight sweating) aerobic exercises such as walking, jogging, and brisk walking, 30 minutes per time, 5 to 7 times per week. Pay attention to exercise safety. Exercise is beneficial to weight loss and improvement of insulin resistance, improving cardiovascular regulation and adaptability, and stabilizing blood pressure levels. The systolic blood pressure reduction effect that can be achieved is: 4 to 9 mmHg.

⑦ Reduce mental stress, maintain a balanced mentality, a happy mood and good sleep, and avoid overwork.

⑧Supplement folic acid preparations when necessary.

⑨ Monitor your blood pressure regularly and measure it in time when you feel unwell.

Conclusion: Let hypertensive patients take action and promote healthy lifestyle intervention. It is a reasonable and effective treatment for any hypertensive patient at any time. The purpose is to lower blood pressure, control other risk factors and clinical conditions, improve patient compliance, and build confidence in defeating hypertension!

References:

[1] Internal Medicine, 8th edition, Chapter 5: Hypertension

[2] National Guidelines for the Prevention, Treatment and Management of Hypertension at the Primary Level

[3] "Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension in the Elderly in China 2023"

[3] "Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension in China" 2023 edition

Statement: Medical knowledge popularization is applicable to all patients with hypertension. Improving lifestyle behavior cannot completely replace medication.