In recent years, national statistics have shown that approximately 2 million people die from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in China each year. Primary hypertension is not only an independent cardiovascular disease with the highest incidence among various cardiovascular diseases, but also the main risk factor for various chronic diseases such as stroke and coronary heart disease, and one of the main causes of death from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Therefore, it is particularly important to provide systematic health education and guidance for patients with hypertension.
Firstly, we need to understand the definition of hypertension. Hypertension refers to an abnormal condition where arterial blood pressure exceeds the normal range. Blood pressure measurement is generally based on the brachial artery. The blood pressure range of normal adults in a quiet state is relatively stable, with a normal range of systolic blood pressure of 90-139mmHg, diastolic blood pressure of 60-89mmHg, and pulse pressure of 30-40mmHg.
According to international standard measurement units, the unit of pressure is pascal (Pa), which is Newton per square meter (N/㎡). However, pascal is a relatively small unit, so blood pressure is usually measured in kilopascals (kPa). As people have been using mercury sphygmomanometers to measure blood pressure for a long time, it is customary to use the degree of mercury, or millimeter of mercury (mmHg), to represent blood pressure values. The conversion formula is 1mmHg=0.133kPa, 1kPa=7.5mmHg. Generally speaking, if the systolic blood pressure is ≥ 140mmHg and the diastolic blood pressure is ≥ 90mmHg, exceeding these values is considered hypertension.
The main causes of hypertension include genetics, environment, overweight, high salt in the diet, moderate or excessive alcohol consumption, as well as smoking, age, stress, blood viscosity, hyperlipidemia, socio-economic and psychological factors. Health education for hypertension includes the following aspects:
Reasonable diet, hypertensive patients should consume low salt and high potassium foods, reduce intake of high cholesterol and high-fat foods, and eat more foods rich in vitamins and dietary fiber.
2. Take appropriate rest. Proper rest and adequate sleep are beneficial for lowering blood pressure. Once a hypertensive crisis occurs, strict bed rest and hospitalization treatment are necessary. Hypertensive patients should pay attention to a regular lifestyle, avoid excessive fatigue, avoid watching movies and TV shows with scary or tense plots, avoid staying up late or working all night, and pay attention to the balance between work and rest.
3. Moderate exercise can enhance physical fitness. When exercising, it is important to note that (1) the amount of exercise should not be too large, and the heart rate should not increase by more than 20 beats per minute after exercise, and should return to normal after resting for 15-30 minutes; (2) Do not overdo it or get too tired, adopt a gradual approach to increase activity levels; (3) Pay attention to the surrounding environment and climate: In summer, avoid the time when the sun shines brightly at noon; Winter: Pay attention to keeping warm and prevent stroke; (4) Wearing comfortable and sweat absorbing clothes: it is necessary to choose cotton fabrics, sports shoes, etc; (5) When exercising, do not empty your stomach to avoid hypoglycemia. It should be done 2 hours after meals.
4. Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption, especially limiting the consumption of high alcohol. Smoking can lead to high blood pressure. Research has shown that smoking a cigarette increases heart rate by 5-20 beats per minute and systolic blood pressure by 10-25mmhg. Because tobacco contains nicotine (nicotine), it can stimulate the central nervous system and sympathetic nervous system, increase heart rate, and also promote the release of large amounts of catecholamines from the adrenal gland, causing small arteries to contract and leading to an increase in blood pressure. Nicotine can also stimulate chemoreceptors in blood vessels, reflexively causing an increase in blood pressure. Long term and large amount of smoking will also promote atherosclerosis of the large arteries, and gradually thicken the intima of the small arteries, making the whole blood vessels gradually hardened. At the same time, due to the increase of carbon monoxide hemoglobin content in the blood of smokers, the oxygen content of the blood is reduced, the arterial intima is hypoxic, and the oxygen content of the arterial wall lipids is increased, accelerating the formation of atherosclerosis. Therefore, quitting smoking for people without hypertension can prevent the occurrence of hypertension, and people with hypertension should quit smoking even more.
5. Weight control: Obesity can easily lead to high blood pressure. Patients should lose weight appropriately and control their weight within 15% of their ideal weight, which can help control blood pressure.
6. Maintaining a calm mindset is beneficial for controlling hypertension. The psychological manifestations of hypertensive patients are tension, irritability, and emotional instability, which are all factors that contribute to the increase in blood pressure. Patients can cultivate good adaptability to the natural environment and society by changing their behavior, avoiding emotional excitement, excessive tension, and anxiety. They should remain calm and composed when faced with problems; When there is significant mental pressure, one should try to release it, confide in friends and family, or encourage participation in relaxed and enjoyable leisure activities. Devote oneself to music or flowers to live in the best state and maintain stable blood pressure.
7. Medication care. (1) Take antihypertensive drugs orally as much as possible, gradually lowering blood pressure to prevent insufficient blood supply to the heart, brain, and kidneys due to sudden drops in blood pressure; (2) There are many types and varieties of existing antihypertensive drugs, and the pharmacological effects of various antihypertensive drugs are different. The medication should vary from person to person and should be taken under the guidance of a doctor; (2) It is necessary to adhere to long-term medication and understand the effects and side effects of the medication. Pay attention to the occurrence of hypokalemia when using potassium diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide. Captopril has side effects such as dry cough, abnormal taste, and rash. When side effects occur, it is necessary to report to the doctor in a timely manner and adjust medication; (4) During the application of antihypertensive drugs, it is advisable to inform patients that when standing up from their seat or lying down, the movements should be as slow as possible, especially when getting up to urinate at night, to avoid sudden drops in blood pressure causing fainting and accidents; (5) Prevention of orthostatic hypotension in elderly individuals and those taking noradrenergic nerve endings blockers.
By providing health education in the above areas, patients with hypertension will benefit greatly.