Addicted to the "air-conditioning world"? Beware of stroke

As the weather gets hotter, many people are addicted to the cool "air-conditioned world". Especially when they get home from get off work at noon, it feels like they have been through a sauna. The first thing many people do when they open the door is to turn on the air conditioner. Little do they know that this practice can easily cause a stroke.

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Using air conditioning to keep cool? Beware of heat stroke

Stroke is a common cerebrovascular disease that poses a greater threat to the middle-aged and elderly. Stroke that occurs in hot weather is commonly known as "heat stroke." Su Hongjun, deputy chief physician of the Department of Neurology at Baodi District People's Hospital in Tianjin, said that when the weather is hot, the human body will sweat a lot, which can easily lead to "dehydration". "Dehydration" will reduce blood volume and make the blood thicker, which will slow down blood circulation and increase the probability of stroke.

In addition, some people like to turn on the air conditioner when they are sweating profusely in order to get some "temporary coolness", but doing so can easily cause a stroke.

Guo Yijing, deputy chief physician of the Department of Neurology at the Zhongda Hospital affiliated to Southeast University, said in an interview with Health Times that when the ambient temperature is high, the blood vessels of a person can expand more and the blood flow is greater. If a person suddenly enters a colder environment, the blood vessels will contract rapidly and the blood flow rate will decrease. Therefore, some blood clots that originally existed in the blood vessels are more likely to be deposited on the blood vessel walls, causing blood vessel blockage and triggering a stroke.

How to prevent "heat stroke"? 5 tips to help you

How to prevent "heat stroke"? Ding Baowei, director of the emergency department of the 425th Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, gave the following five suggestions in an interview with Hainan Daily:

1. Avoid extreme temperatures. Do not set the air conditioner too low. Turn it off 10 minutes before going out and wait until your body has adapted to the outside temperature.

2. Add some bitterness to your diet. You can eat more bitter foods, such as bitter melon, which can help promote diuresis, eliminate dampness, and reduce inflammation and fever.

3. Drink water even if you are not thirsty. Especially for patients with "three highs" (high blood pressure, high blood lipids, and high blood sugar), you must pay attention to replenishing water and drink water frequently even if you are not thirsty.

4. Stay out of the house when it is hot. The elderly should stay out of the house as little as possible when the weather is hot, and try to choose a cool place when doing outdoor activities.

5. Hold an umbrella when going out. It is best for the elderly to have family members accompany them when going out, and prepare parasols, hats, fans and other items in advance.

In addition, Yan Fuling, chief physician of the Department of Neurology at the Zhongda Hospital affiliated to Southeast University, reminded everyone in an interview with the Yangtze Evening News that the symptoms of stroke are sometimes not obvious, so you need to be vigilant. If you find that the patient has a crooked mouth, squinting eyes, slurred speech, and cannot lift one side of his limbs, you need to call 120 emergency number immediately, or rush to send him to the hospital. (Xiao Yuan)

This article was scientifically reviewed by Su Hongjun, deputy chief physician of the Department of Neurology, Baodi District People's Hospital, Tianjin.