The mortality rate of cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction is higher when they occur in winter. How can the elderly spend the winter safely?

After a few days of continuous temperature drops, many places have refreshed the "lowest temperature" since the beginning of the 21st century. When Huazi went out, his exposed skin felt not only cold but also needle-like pain. Elderly patients seeking treatment in the hospital also began to "gather", many of whom were patients with cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction.

In relevant studies, the incidence of cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction in winter accounts for 69.5% of the whole year, and the mortality rate is 41% higher than in other seasons. Especially for the elderly with chronic diseases, winter is like a "checkpoint" and they need to pay attention to protecting their health and make themselves "pass" safely.

1. Low temperatures are to blame The main culprit for the increased incidence and mortality of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in winter is low temperatures. Humans are warm-blooded animals, and the heat generated by the human body is balanced with the heat dissipated. When the external temperature is low, the blood vessels on the surface of the body will contract and sweat secretion will be reduced to reduce the loss of body temperature.

The contraction of blood vessels on the surface of the body will cause blood to flow to the aorta, which will increase the resistance of the heart to pump blood. At the same time, the contraction of peripheral blood vessels will increase the peripheral resistance of circulation, resulting in an increase in both high and low blood pressure. In addition, the reduction of sweat secretion will reduce the excretion of sodium ions that have a pressor effect, which will further increase the blood pressure.

On average, blood pressure in winter is 12/6 mmHg higher than in summer. Excessive blood pressure is a direct factor causing cerebral hemorrhage. In addition, cold stimulation can stimulate vascular spasm, causing strong contraction of vascular smooth muscle, narrowing the lumen, and in severe cases, complete occlusion, directly leading to acute cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction.

For people with atherosclerosis, the increased mechanical force of blood flow caused by high blood pressure and the strong contraction during vascular spasm may cause the rupture of atherosclerotic plaques, which in turn induces platelet aggregation to form thrombus, and may also cause acute cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction.

2. Keeping warm is important 1. Go to bed late and get up late: Most elderly people are used to going to bed at 7 or 8 o'clock in the evening and getting up at 4 or 5 o'clock in the morning. However, in the emergency room of the hospital in winter, it can be observed that the early morning is the peak period for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular patients. Because the human body's blood pressure naturally rises in the early morning, some people's blood pressure also has a "morning peak" phenomenon. Getting up at this time will add up to the impact of the cold on blood pressure, causing a sudden rise in blood pressure.

Therefore, for elderly people who have retired and do not need to get up early to work, they can adjust their sleep time, go to bed later and get up later appropriately. They can also "stay in bed longer" when they wake up in the morning without rushing to get up.

2. Wait until the sun is high before going out: If you need to go out, it is best to wait until the sun is fully out. In winter, the temperature difference between sunshine and no sunshine can reach more than 10 degrees. Studies have shown that for every 1°C drop in temperature, the high pressure will rise by 1.3mmHg and the low pressure will rise by 0.6mmHg. Therefore, waiting until noon when the sun is the strongest to go out will be the least affected by the temperature and the safest.

3. Keeping warm is important: In winter, you should keep warm. In addition to wearing thick clothes, you should also keep your head, neck, hands, and feet warm. The blood vessels in the head and neck are connected to the brain, and they are very dangerous when they are stimulated by cold, so you should wear a hat and scarf. When wearing a scarf, be careful not to wrap it too tightly to avoid compressing the carotid sinus. The hands and feet are rich in nerve endings, and they have a greater impact on the body when they are cold, so you should wear gloves and warm shoes and socks.

3. Rely on drugs to protect yourself For the elderly with chronic diseases, they should take medicine regularly in winter and pay attention to the adjustment of medicine. For example, people with high blood pressure will have higher and fluctuating blood pressure in winter, so they need to consult a doctor to adjust the antihypertensive drugs and increase the dosage to better control blood pressure. When the weather turns warmer, they can reduce the dosage appropriately to keep blood pressure within the standard range.

Although temperature has little effect on blood sugar, low temperature will prompt people to consume more calories to resist the cold, and reduced outdoor activities may cause blood sugar fluctuations in diabetic patients. Therefore, while using hypoglycemic drugs, diabetic patients should also pay attention to blood sugar monitoring and increase indoor activities to maintain blood sugar stability.

For people with high risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, they need to adhere to cholesterol-lowering treatment and antiplatelet therapy to stabilize atherosclerotic plaques and prevent the formation of blood clots.

In summary, low temperatures in winter are the main cause of the high incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and increased mortality. For the elderly population with higher risks, in addition to paying attention to daily warmth, they must also adhere to regular medication for chronic diseases. Under the guidance of a doctor, all indicators must be controlled within the normal range to safely spend the winter. I am pharmacist Huazi, welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.