11
2022
-
07
Be careful of this 'bomb' hidden in the bodies of hypertension patients!
The occurrence of hypertension is closely related to the aging and hardening of arterial blood vessels, with patients primarily being middle-aged and elderly individuals. The incidence of constipation also tends to increase exponentially with the degree of aging.
Author:
Our hospital is a unit of the Linyi People's Hospital's "Medical Alliance" and also a cooperative unit that provides comprehensive support, technical assistance, talent training, two-way referrals, hierarchical diagnosis and treatment, vertical linkage, complementary advantages, and resource sharing. By leveraging the disciplinary advantages and expert resources of the core hospital, we provide a more solid foundation for our hospital to better serve the public, allowing the people to enjoy convenient and high-quality medical care. At the Linyi Maternal and Child Hospital, not only can personalized health services be enjoyed, but also the high-quality medical resources of a tertiary hospital!
The occurrence of hypertension is closely related to the aging and hardening of arterial blood vessels, with patients primarily being middle-aged and elderly individuals, while the incidence of constipation also tends to increase exponentially with the degree of aging.
The main manifestations of constipation in the elderly are reduced frequency of bowel movements and difficulty in defecation. Many patients have fewer than 2 bowel movements per week, and in severe cases, it may take 2 to 4 weeks to have a bowel movement; difficulty in defecation may manifest as taking more than half an hour for each bowel movement, or having multiple trips to the toilet each day without being able to pass stool; at the same time, the stool may be hard and pellet-like, and the quantity is very small.
Firstly, most hypertensive patients are in an age group that already shows varying degrees of bodily function decline, such as muscle relaxation, delayed nerve responses, endocrine disorders, and insufficient intestinal motility, all of which can hinder the normal process of defecation.
Secondly, hypertensive patients often have various other chronic diseases, such as diabetes and chronic renal insufficiency, and they may need to take multiple medications, such as diuretics or calcium channel blockers for lowering blood pressure, various analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as neurological and psychiatric medications, all of which are important factors leading to constipation.
Finally, due to age or disease, hypertensive patients may develop unhealthy lifestyles, such as prolonged sitting, insufficient physical activity, overly monotonous diets, and lack of adequate dietary fiber intake, all of which can easily lead to constipation.
The harms of constipation
1. Colon tumors
Long-term constipation can lead to the accumulation of harmful substances in the intestines of the elderly, stimulating the intestinal mucosa, leading to lesions in that area, and resulting in diseases such as colon tumors. Therefore, elderly individuals with long-term constipation must regularly undergo examinations of the colon.
2. Megacolon
The occurrence of constipation can severely affect the digestive system of the elderly, and the tension of the colonic muscle layer in elderly individuals is already relatively weak; constipation can cause abnormal tension in the colonic muscle layer, increasing the likelihood of developing megacolon.
3. Cerebral hemorrhage, myocardial infarction
Constipation may also trigger cerebral hemorrhage in the elderly, especially for hypertensive patients, where constipation is a "time bomb." Once constipation occurs, patients may involuntarily tense their muscles and exert themselves during defecation, causing a noticeable increase in heart rate, a sudden rise in cardiac burden, and an increase in blood pressure, which can easily lead to the rupture of fragile local blood vessels, resulting in emergencies such as cerebral hemorrhage or myocardial infarction, with severe cases potentially leading to sudden death.
1. Scientific hydration
Actively drink small amounts of water multiple times, preferably warm water, about 100ml each time, and drink no less than 1500ml per day, ideally between 1500ml and 2000ml.
2. Optimize dietary structure
Increase the intake of foods rich in dietary fiber, eat more whole grains, vegetables, fungi, and fruits; reduce spicy foods; drink a cup of yogurt daily to regulate intestinal flora; fats have a lubricating effect on the intestines, so appropriately increase the intake of olive oil, flaxseed oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, or foods like sesame and walnuts.
3. Exercise more, avoid prolonged sitting
Engage in aerobic exercises such as brisk walking or jogging, aiming to exercise at least twice a week for 30 to 60 minutes each time.
4. Develop a habit of regular bowel movements
It is generally easier to have a successful bowel movement in the morning after getting up or 2 hours after meals.
If hypertensive patients still cannot relieve constipation after adjusting their lifestyle, they should seek medical attention promptly.Never stop medication on your own due to suspicion that a certain antihypertensive drug is causing constipation.
Whether adjusting the antihypertensive medication regimen or adding medications to enhance intestinal motility and promote defecation, it must be done under the guidance of a doctor to effectively relieve constipation while ensuring blood pressure stability and avoiding the risk of adverse events.
Related Content
Health Hotline
Address: No.18, Zhongshan Road, Lanshan District, Linyi City, Shandong Province
Outpatient service hours: 8:00-20:00 (24 hours a day)
Night clinic: 24 hours (24 hours a day)
Public Number
Video Number
Tiktok