Winter is the season of high incidence of coronary heart disease, the temperature plummets and the cold wind bites, making many patients with coronary heart disease feel chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitation and other discomforts.
Coronary heart disease is a serious cardiovascular disease, and if not prevented in time, it may lead to critical symptoms such as myocardial infarction, heart failure, and even life-threatening. So, what should patients with coronary heart disease pay attention to in winter to effectively protect their hearts?
The main ** of coronary heart disease is atherosclerosis, and then there is a layer of plaque on the wall of the blood vessels, which are coagulated by cholesterol, fat, and calcium salts, which will make the blood vessels hard and narrow, affecting blood circulation.
The main symptom of coronary heart disease is angina, which is chest pain or discomfort caused by ischemia of the heart. Angina pectoris generally occurs in the precordial area or behind the sternum, and can radiate to the left shoulder, left arm, jaw, back and other parts, and the nature of the pain can be stuffiness, squeezing pain, tightness, etc., and the duration is generally a few seconds to a few minutes, which can be relieved by rest or taking nitroglycerin and other drugs.
Angina pectoris is divided into stable type and unstable type, the former refers to the occurrence of certain triggers (such as exercise, emotional agitation, etc.), the latter refers to the occurrence of no obvious cause or rest, and the frequency, degree and duration of pain are increased, unstable angina pectoris is a precursor to myocardial infarction, and timely medical attention is required.
In addition to angina, coronary heart disease can also present with the following symptoms: arrhythmias, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death.
Winter is the season of high incidence of coronary heart disease, which is related to the climatic characteristics of winter and the physiological changes of the human body. In winter, the temperature is low, and the cold stimulation will excite the body's sympathetic nervous system, secreting catecholamines and other substances, resulting in vasoconstriction, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, increased heart load and oxygen consumption, and also increased the possibility of coronary artery spasm, thereby inducing or aggravating myocardial ischemia.
In addition, cold can increase blood viscosity and platelet aggregation, promote the formation of blood clots, which may lead to complete occlusion of coronary arteries and cause myocardial infarction.
There will also be some changes in the lifestyle of the human body in winter, and these changes will also affect the occurrence and development of coronary heart disease. In winter, outdoor activities are reduced and the amount of exercise decreases, which leads to a slowdown in the body's metabolism and an increase in blood lipid levels, which accelerates the process of atherosclerosis.
Most people like to eat high-calorie, high-fat, and high-salt foods, which will increase the burden on the heart, and will also increase risk factors such as blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar. Winter is also a period of high incidence of respiratory diseases such as colds and flu, which can cause systemic inflammatory responses, leading to impaired vascular endothelial function and increasing the risk of coronary heart disease.
In order to protect the heart of patients with coronary heart disease in winter, they must first do a good job of prevention and avoid factors that induce or aggravate myocardial ischemia. Specifically, there are the following suggestions:
Stay warm and avoid exposure to cold, especially in the morning and evening and when the wind is blowing, wear appropriate clothing to protect the head, neck, chest and limbs to prevent vasoconstriction and increased blood pressure. If you need to go out, pay attention to the temperature changes, add or remove appropriate clothing, and avoid sudden cold or overheating.
Take medication regularly, take drugs prescribed by doctors on time and in accordance with the amount, such as nitroglycerin, aspirin, statins, etc., to improve myocardial ischemia, stabilize plaque, reduce blood pressure, blood lipids, blood sugar, etc., and prevent the occurrence of myocardial infarction. If you have angina or other uncomfortable symptoms, take nitroglycerin and call the emergency service if necessary** to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Eat a reasonable diet, control calorie intake, avoid eating too greasy, spicy and salty foods, and eat more fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains and other foods rich in fiber and vitamins, so as to help reduce blood lipids, blood sugar, blood pressure, and reduce the development of atherosclerosis. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to the amount of water intake, maintain the water balance, and prevent the blood from being too viscous and increasing the burden on the heart.
Moderate exercise, according to your own physical condition, choose suitable exercise methods, such as walking, jogging, tai chi, etc., to enhance cardiopulmonary function, promote blood circulation, improve myocardial ischemia, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Pay attention to the appropriate intensity, time and frequency of exercise to avoid overexertion, which can cause excessive workload on the heart. Before and after exercise, it is necessary to prepare for activities and relaxation activities to prevent the sudden onset of myocardial ischemia.
Regulate emotions, keep a good mood, and avoid excessive worry, nervousness, excitement and other negative emotions, so as not to cause arrhythmia, blood pressure fluctuations, etc., and affect the stability of the heart. You can relieve stress, relax your mood and improve your quality of life by listening, reading, communicating, and raising pets.
In addition to doing a good job in prevention, patients with coronary heart disease in winter should also receive ** in time to control their condition and improve their prognosis. There are several main methods:
Drugs**, mainly the use of antiplatelet aggregation drugs, anticoagulants, coronary artery dilation drugs, myocardial oxygen consumption reduction drugs, myocardial metabolism improvement drugs, etc., to reduce the formation of thrombosis, alleviate myocardial ischemia, protect myocardial cells, and prevent the occurrence and expansion of myocardial infarction.
Intervention**, mainly through catheters in the coronary arteries balloon dilation or stent implantation and other operations, to restore the patency of blood vessels, improve the blood flow of myocardium**, alleviate symptoms, improve survival rate.
Surgery**, mainly through thoracotomy, transplants blood vessels from other parts (such as intrathoracic breast artery, saphenous vein, etc.) to the coronary artery, bypassing the stenosis or occlusion, forming a new blood pathway to increase myocardial perfusion and reduce the occurrence of myocardial infarction.
Coronary heart disease is a common cardiovascular disease that poses a serious threat to people's health and life. Winter is the season of high incidence of coronary heart disease, and patients with coronary heart disease should pay special attention to protecting the heart and preventing myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction. It is hoped that the introduction of this article can help patients with coronary heart disease and readers understand and prevent this disease, maintain the health of the heart, and enjoy the beauty of winter.