▶ Orthostatic hypotension
Blood vessels dilate when exposed to summer heat
Walking and jogging simple aerobic exercise
▶ Heart disease
Rapid cold shower vasoconstriction
Outdoor activities in the evening rather than in the morning
▶ Diabetes patients
Excessive sweating causes hypoglycemia
Always ready sugar water and candies
▷ Beware of ‘orthostatic hypotension’, be sure to check your blood pressure in a hot and humid environment = Your blood pressure is relatively lower in summer than in winter. However, lowering blood pressure is not necessarily a good thing. When exposed to heat, blood vessels dilate. If you change your posture at this time, your blood pressure may fluctuate. Have you ever experienced a headache when you suddenly stand up? Orthostatic hypotension is more common in summer. If a hypertensive patient is taking a decompressant, the drug itself is a vasodilator, so it is easier to feel the symptoms of orthostatic hypotension or a drop in blood pressure, and in severe cases, it may cause fainting or a fall. Therefore, it is recommended to refrain from outdoor activities for a long time when the high temperature of 30 degrees Celsius or more and humid weather continue for a long time. The same applies even in cool weather when entering a high-temperature sauna or hot tub.
Hypertensive patients prefer aerobic exercise that can be performed at low intensity for a long time. In particular, simple, dynamic, whole-body exercises such as walking or light jogging effectively lower blood pressure. On the other hand, since weight exercise using heavy equipment is a static exercise, the diastolic blood pressure during exercise greatly increases. At this time, it is important to keep breathing and not stop breathing.
▷If you have heart disease, avoid going out in the middle of the day in summer and drink water and a small amount of electrolytes frequently. As a result, heart disease can worsen, such as an elevated pulse rate or an arrhythmia. It is best to avoid going out in the middle of the day. You might think that it is better to go out in the morning because it is cooler than during the day, but it is better to avoid it in the morning as well. The sympathetic nervous system is less active while we sleep, and then becomes active when we wake up. Morning is the time that puts the greatest strain on the heart. It is recommended that you do outdoor activities in the evening rather than in the morning.
If you exercise, it is recommended to continue brisk walking 3 to 5 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes. If you take a quick cold shower following exercising because it is hot, the blood vessels that were dilated in hot weather abruptly constrict. This reduces blood flow to the heart, which can make heart disease worse. In addition, sudden rupture of atherosclerotic plaques can lead to acute myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest. Avoid rushing to pour cold water to cool down.
▷ Diabetic patients, if hypoglycemia occurs due to excessive water excretion, consume sugar water or candies = When a diabetic patient is exposed to heat for a long time, a lot of water is excreted in the urine along with glucose. At this time, if the amount of food is insufficient compared to the amount of activity or if other blood sugar-lowering drugs are being used in combination, hypoglycemia may occur. Also, if a lot of water is excreted through urine and sweat, the blood sugar level rises rapidly and then hypoglycemia may occur in response. When you have low blood sugar, your body trembles and you lose energy. Anxiety overwhelms you with a cold sweat or your heart beating. It also numbs around the lips and fingertips. If these symptoms occur, you should quickly drink regarding 100cc of sugar water or eat 2-3 tablets of sugar candy. If you are unconscious, you should immediately go to the hospital for emergency treatment. Diabetic patients should refrain from consuming excessive monosaccharides unless they show symptoms of hypoglycemia because their blood sugar levels are chronically high, but it is very important to drink enough water.
When people with diabetes exercise, their blood sugar levels drop. This is because exercise burns calories and increases blood flow to the muscles. As a result, the action of insulin, a hormone that lowers blood sugar, becomes active. The goal of exercise for diabetic patients is to lower blood sugar. Aerobic exercise is perfect for improving obesity by increasing energy expenditure. In particular, walking, climbing, biking, jumping rope, and climbing stairs, which use the large muscles of the legs, are good.
You should also pay attention to foot hygiene. It is forbidden to walk barefoot in the water or on the beach. Diabetic patients have blunted peripheral nerves. Even if you have a wound on your foot, you may not feel it because of nerve damage. Inflammation within the tissue is easily exacerbated and does not heal well. Since ulcers can lead to serious complications, special care must be taken in foot care.
By Kim Tae-yeol
