Clothing, Sleep, and Brushing: A Guide to Daily Life for People with Hypertension

4. What impact does clothing have on patients with hypertension?

Hypertension and atherosclerosis often occur together, and atherosclerosis involves almost the entire body, and its pathological changes are also systemic.

Take the femoral artery in the thigh as an example. When the artery is atherosclerotic, the lumen of the blood vessel narrows. If you tighten your belt too much at this time, it will further increase the resistance to blood flow in the lower body.

In order to maintain normal blood circulation in the lower body, the heart, the "power pump," has to increase its power, and blood pressure will rise accordingly.

This sudden increase in blood pressure can sometimes result in serious reactions.

The same principle applies to shoelaces, collars, and watch straps clipped to the wrist; they should all be loose rather than tight, aiming for a natural and comfortable fit.

**5. What kind of sleep should patients with hypertension maintain?**

Patients with hypertension should ensure sufficient sleep every day, generally 7 to 8 hours, while the elderly can appropriately reduce it to 6 to 7 hours; it is best to take a short nap at noon.

Studies have shown that a 30-60 minute nap after lunch can help the body relax, and a short nap in the afternoon can reduce the chance of cerebral hemorrhage in patients with hypertension.

When you can't sleep, you can sit on the sofa with your eyes closed or sit quietly, which is beneficial for lowering blood pressure.

Before going to sleep at night, sit quietly with your eyes closed for a while, and you will fall asleep naturally.

Avoid watching stimulating movies or reading stimulating books at night, or engaging in strenuous activities. Do not develop a habit of relying on sleeping pills to fall asleep.

6. What precautions should patients with hypertension take when washing up?

Water that is too hot or too cold can stimulate skin receptors, causing the constriction and dilation of peripheral blood vessels, which in turn affects blood pressure.

Therefore, when washing your face and rinsing your mouth every morning and evening, you should use warm water at 30-35℃.

Patients with high blood pressure should take a bath at least once a week. The water temperature should not be too hot or too cold, so as not to stimulate the contraction and relaxation of small blood vessels in the skin, which in turn affects blood pressure.

Pay special attention to safety and avoid bathing in large public baths to prevent falls.

Do not soak in the bath for too long.

Otherwise, it could trigger a stroke.

7. What precautions should patients with high blood pressure take when washing their hair?

When washing their hair, patients with hypertension can use their ten fingers to gently massage from the top of their head, around their forehead, to the back of their neck, rotating back and forth 20 to 30 times each time (or they can use a comb to comb their hair).

This can stimulate nerve endings in the scalp, promote blood circulation in the head through the cerebral cortex, improve scalp nutrition and sebum secretion, benefit metabolism and regulate nerve function, relax tension, clear the mind, make the whole body comfortable, and thus lower high blood pressure.

**8. What are the "three threes" that patients with hypertension should adhere to?**

The "three threes" refer to three and a half minutes, three and a half hours, and three cups of water.

(1) Three half-minutes: get up at night, lie flat for half a minute, sit on the bed for half a minute, and dangle your feet for half a minute.

(2) Three and a half hours: walk for half an hour in the morning, sleep for half an hour at noon, and take a walk for half an hour in the evening.

(3) Three cups of water: a cup of warm water before bed, a cup of warm water in the middle of the night, and a cup of warm water when you wake up in the morning.

**9. What lifestyle adjustments should be made for the patient?**

(1) A balanced diet.

(2) Lose weight.

(3) Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption.

(4) Moderate exercise.

(5) Psychological balance.