After a quiet lunch, the laughter of the family dinner gradually dissipated, and people sat or lay down, enjoying the leisure after a full stomach. It's a common sight in many families, but few realize that there may be a potential threat to their health. Cerebrovascular events, such as cerebral vascular obstruction (commonly known as cerebral infarction), are not sudden disasters, but are the result of a combination of factors over time. In particular, some seemingly innocuous habits after a meal may actually be a potential driver to speed up the process.
Many people enjoy a relaxing nap after a meal, but the hidden health risks behind this habit cannot be ignored. Lying down immediately after a meal can affect the normal movement of food in the stomach, prolong digestion time, increase the risk of acid reflux, and pose a threat to esophageal health. What's more, this habit slows down blood circulation, causing blood to concentrate in the digestive system, affecting blood in other organs, including the brain**. In the long run, it may increase the risk of cerebral ischemia, thereby accelerating the onset of cerebral infarction.
Alternatives: To avoid these potential health risks, you can choose to engage in light activities such as walking for 15 to 20 minutes or doing some light household activities after meals. This not only helps food digestion, but also promotes blood circulation and reduces the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral infarction.
Overeating is a common problem in modern society, especially during holidays or gatherings. Excessive intake of food, especially high-fat and high-sugar foods, will lead to a sharp increase in blood sugar and blood lipids, and increase the burden on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In addition, long-term overeating can also lead to obesity and increase the risk of diseases such as abnormal glucose metabolism and increased systemic arterial blood pressure, which are important risk factors for cerebral infarction.
Recommendation: Eat your meals wisely, especially when eating energy-dense foods. It is recommended to adopt a small-plate diet, using smaller plates to reduce the amount of food you eat, and at the same time increase the proportion of vegetables and fruits to ensure a balanced diet, which can help control weight and reduce the risk of cerebral infarction.
Moderate exercise after meals is essential for maintaining health. Lack of exercise can lead to a decrease in the body's metabolic rate and poor blood circulation, which in turn increases the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Proper exercise after meals, such as walking or doing some light stretching exercises, can help speed up food digestion, promote blood circulation, and reduce blood lipids, thereby effectively preventing cerebral infarction.
Practical advice: It is not advisable to do strenuous exercise immediately after eating, so as not to burden the heart and brain. It is recommended to wait for 30 minutes after eating, and then do light to moderate intensity exercise, and the time is controlled to about 30 minutes, and walking is the most appropriate.
For middle-aged and elderly people, especially those with a history of abnormal glucose metabolism, postprandial blood glucose management is particularly important. The sharp rise in blood glucose levels after meals will increase the burden on pancreatic islets, which may lead to hypofunction of pancreatic islets in the long term and increase the risk of abnormal glucose metabolism developing diabetes, which is one of the important risk factors for cerebral infarction.
Management strategies: Appropriate activity after meals, such as walking, can help lower blood sugar levels. Choosing low glycemic index (GI) foods as staple foods, such as whole-grain bread, oats, etc., can slow down the rate at which blood sugar rises. Also, monitor your blood sugar levels and follow your doctor's instructions to adjust your diet and exercise plan.