Is cerebral thrombosis getting younger? How should we prevent and care for it in our daily life?

Speaking of cerebral thrombosis, I believe everyone is familiar with it. Cerebral thrombosis is a common "killer" of middle-aged and elderly people, with the frightening "four high characteristics": high incidence, high mortality, high recurrence rate, and high disability rate. With the increase of long-term bad living habits of modern people, the group of patients with cerebral thrombosis has begun to become younger. Data show that there are 2.5 million new cases of cerebral thrombosis each year, of which 10% die, 50% have obvious sequelae, 10% may have another stroke, and only 30% of patients can recover clinically.

In 2018, a 14-year-old boy suddenly suffered from left-side limb weakness. After being sent to the hospital, he was diagnosed with cerebral infarction. The doctor analyzed that it was related to staying up late and drinking sugary drinks for a long time. In 2023, Xiaohua (pseudonym), a college student in Guangzhou, suffered a cerebral infarction and lost consciousness during class. After being sent to the hospital, he was diagnosed with cerebral thrombosis. More and more studies have shown that cerebral thrombosis has gradually tended to be younger, so the younger cerebral thrombosis should attract our attention. Due to the high pressure of study and work, young people stay up late for a long time, and their cerebral blood vessels are in a state of tension and contraction for a long time. Coupled with bad living and eating habits, it is very likely to induce arteriosclerosis or vascular stenosis, leading to the formation of cerebral thrombosis. So what should we pay attention to in life? How to care for cerebral thrombosis?

The first thing is to develop good living habits:

Live a regular life, get enough sleep, try to maintain 7-8 hours of sleep a day, and keep your mood stable. Do not smoke or drink excessively, maintain a balanced diet, reduce the intake of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, eat more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as deep-sea fish, and high-fiber foods, such as vegetables and fruits. In addition, a moderate intake of foods containing antioxidants, such as nuts and tea, can help protect blood vessel health. At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, such as walking, swimming, and cycling, can help improve cardiovascular function, lower blood pressure and blood lipids, and reduce the risk of thrombosis. Avoid sitting for long periods of time, especially those who work in offices should pay attention to standing up and moving around regularly.

Secondly, ensure adequate water intake:

When the blood is viscous, the blood flow slows down and it is easier to "coagulate" and form blood clots. Therefore, drinking more water can reduce the risk of cerebral thrombosis. Drink a 200ml glass of water after getting up in the morning. Morning is the beginning of the body's physiological activities in a day. During this period of time, platelet activity increases and blood viscosity increases, making the morning a high-risk period for thrombosis. After a night of deep sleep, the fat deposits on the blood vessel walls may loosen and fall off, further increasing the risk of thrombosis. Therefore, the first glass of water after getting up in the morning is crucial. It can not only help replenish the water lost at night, dilute the blood, and reduce viscosity, but also promote metabolism and activate body functions. Drink 200ml of water before going to bed. When sleeping at night, the blood flow rate of the human body will slow down. Drinking water in moderation before going to bed to maintain the body's water balance will help promote sleep. Drink 100ml when getting up at night. Some materials show that cerebral thrombosis and myocardial infarction often occur around 2 a.m., so you can put a glass of water at the bedside before going to bed. If you get up at night, you can drink two sips and replenish water appropriately. Avoid drinking sugary drinks, such as soda and fruit juice, because these drinks increase sugar intake and are bad for your health. In addition, you can drink water half an hour before meals to help digestion, replenish water before and after exercise to prevent dehydration, and replenish water in time when you feel thirsty, and don't wait until you are extremely thirsty to drink water.

So how should patients with cerebral thrombosis be cared for? Nursing of patients with cerebral thrombosis is a comprehensive process, which requires the joint efforts of the patients themselves, their families and caregivers. Many patients lose their ability to take care of themselves, which also adds some difficulty to nursing.

Life care

Assist patients with daily living activities, such as eating, washing, dressing, etc.;

Ensure that the patient's living environment is safe and comfortable to avoid falls and other accidental injuries;

Assist patients with rehabilitation training, such as walking, going up and down stairs, etc.

Diet care

Providing a low-salt, low-fat, high-fiber diet to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels;

Encourage patients to eat more fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains;

Avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol.

Drug treatment

Administer medications regularly and quantitatively according to doctor's orders, such as anticoagulants, antihypertensive drugs, etc.;

Monitor patients' drug reactions and side effects and report them to their doctors promptly.

Psychological care

Give patients adequate care and support to help them develop a positive attitude;

You can try psychological counseling or psychotherapy to help patients cope with emotional problems such as anxiety and depression.

Discharge Care

When the patient is discharged from the hospital, detailed discharge instructions are provided, including precautions on medication use, diet, exercise, etc.

Patients are advised to have regular checkups and follow the doctor's advice to have their blood pressure, blood lipids, blood sugar, etc. checked regularly. Through regular checkups, chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes can be discovered and controlled in a timely manner to reduce the risk of cerebral thrombosis.

In short, the care of patients with cerebral thrombosis is a comprehensive process that requires multi-faceted cooperation and comprehensive management. Through the implementation of the above measures, we can effectively reduce the risk of cerebral thrombosis and protect the health of ourselves and our families. The views in this article only represent personal opinions. If you have any questions, it is recommended to consult a professional doctor. (Bo Jianmei, Lingshou County People's Hospital, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province)