What fruits are suitable for people with high blood pressure? What fruits are suitable for people with high blood pressure?

Hypertension is a common disease in life. So, what are the fruits suitable for patients with hypertension?

Fruits suitable for high blood pressure

1. Oranges

Oranges contain a large amount of 10 nutrients such as vitamin C and glucose, which can improve the liver's detoxification function and accelerate the treatment of digestive disorders caused by cholesterol.

2. Watermelon

Watermelon contains more than a dozen nutrients and has a good therapeutic effect on high blood pressure.

3. Fresh plums

Fresh plums are rich in nutrients such as acid, malic acid, succinic acid, etc. For people with high blood pressure, dizziness, insomnia, and difficulty falling asleep at night, you can take 3 aged stewed plums (made by stewing black plums and water over low heat), add appropriate amount of boiling water and stew it. It has the effects of lowering blood pressure, promoting sleep, and clearing away heat and promoting salivation.

4. Lemon

Lemons are rich in vitamin C and vitamin P, which can enhance the elasticity and toughness of blood vessels, relieve calcium ions from promoting blood coagulation, and prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension.

5. Citrus

Vitamin B1 plays an important role in the signal transmission of the nervous system. Among fruits, citrus has the highest content of vitamin B1. According to traditional Chinese medicine, citrus nourishes yin, promotes fluid production, aids digestion, relieves cough and reduces phlegm, and is more suitable for people with lung discomfort.

6. Pomegranate

Pomegranate has the highest dietary fiber content of 4.8 grams per 100 grams of edible part. Unlike corn and other coarse grains, the dietary fiber contained in pomegranate is water-soluble and will not be broken down by enzymes in the human digestive tract. It can absorb water and swell, thereby greatly increasing the volume of feces, which can prevent constipation and relieve diarrhea symptoms. At the same time, the bacteria in the intestine can use these celluloses for fermentation to produce B vitamins.

Common symptoms of high blood pressure

1. Dizziness

Dizziness is the most common symptom of hypertension. Some are transient, often occurring when squatting or standing up suddenly, and some are persistent. Dizziness is the main pain of patients. They have a persistent dull and uncomfortable feeling in the head, which seriously hinders thinking, affects work, and causes loss of interest in surrounding things. When hypertensive crisis or vertebral-basilar artery insufficiency occurs, symptoms similar to inner ear vertigo may occur.

2. Headache

Headache is also a common symptom of hypertension, which is usually a persistent dull pain or throbbing pain, or even a bursting pain. It often occurs in the morning when waking up, and gradually subsides after getting up and moving around and after meals. The pain is mostly in the temples on both sides of the forehead and the back of the head.

3. Irritability, palpitations, insomnia

Hypertensive patients are often impatient, sensitive, and easily excited. Palpitations and insomnia are common. Insomnia is often characterized by difficulty falling asleep or waking up early, unreality, nightmares, and easy awakening. This symptom of hypertension is related to cerebral cortex dysfunction and autonomic nervous system dysfunction.

Four dietary taboos for high blood pressure

(1) Control the amount of salt: Scientific research has confirmed that sodium salt intake is positively correlated with hypertension. The dietary habits of Chinese people increase from south to north, and the incidence of hypertension and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in my country also increases from south to north. Effectively limiting the intake of sodium salt is the basic treatment method in the comprehensive treatment of hypertension. Even the intake of bacon, pickled eggs, and pickled vegetables should be strictly controlled.

(2) Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption: The harmful substances in cigarettes can increase the secretion of catecholamines in the adrenal glands, causing vasoconstriction and raising blood pressure. In addition, nicotine in cigarettes can stimulate the heart and speed up the heartbeat. Therefore, patients with hypertension must quit smoking. Drinking a small amount of alcohol is not harmful to the human body, especially drinking some red wine in moderation, which has certain benefits for the cardiovascular system. However, drinking a large amount of alcohol for a long time will damage the arterial wall, aggravate the degree of arteriosclerosis, and make blood pressure difficult to control.

(3) Avoid foods with high fat, high protein and high calories. Foods with high fat, high protein and high calories are collectively referred to as “three high” foods. Common foods include pork, lard, cream, cheese, fried foods, roast duck, chocolate, ice cream and various animal offal. Eating these foods frequently and in large quantities can cause obesity and high blood lipids, which can lead to poor blood circulation, accelerate the process of atherosclerosis, make blood pressure difficult to control and make it easy to have a stroke.

(4) Eat in moderation: Hypertensive patients should avoid eating too much at one time. "If you eat too much, your stomach and intestines will be damaged." Excessive eating can damage the function of the spleen and stomach, leading to the internal generation of phlegm. If the phlegm covers the clear orifices, it can induce a stroke. In addition, if hypertensive patients eat too much, it can also induce myocardial ischemia and lead to angina pectoris. 

General treatment of hypertension

1. Weight loss

2. Eat a healthy diet

(1) Reduce sodium

WHO recommends that the daily salt intake per person should not exceed 6g. To limit salt intake, we should first reduce the amount of salt used in cooking and high-salt seasonings, and eat less pickled vegetables and salted foods. If southern residents reduce their intake by one-third, they will basically be close to the WHO recommendation.

(2) Reduce dietary fat and supplement with appropriate amounts of high-quality protein

Compared with those who eat the least fish, those who eat fish more than four times a week have a 28% lower incidence of coronary heart disease. It is recommended to reduce the consumption of high-fat pork and increase the consumption of poultry and fish that are high in protein and low in fat. Protein accounts for about 15% of total calories, and animal protein accounts for 20% of total protein. The quality of protein is as follows: milk, eggs; fish, shrimp; chicken, duck; pork, beef, mutton; beans are the best among plant proteins.

(3) Supplement potassium and calcium

Potassium and blood pressure are significantly negatively correlated. The Chinese diet is low in potassium and calcium, and we should increase the intake of foods high in potassium and calcium, such as green leafy vegetables, fresh milk, and bean products.

(4) Eat more vegetables and fruits

Increasing the intake of vegetables or fruits and reducing fat intake can reduce SBP and DBP. Vegetarians have lower blood pressure than meat eaters. The human diet should be mainly vegetarian, with appropriate amounts of meat being the most ideal.

(5) Limit alcohol consumption

Studies have shown that drinking a very small amount of alcohol may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, but there is a linear correlation between drinking and blood pressure levels and the prevalence of hypertension, and drinking a lot of alcohol can induce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Therefore, it is not recommended to prevent coronary heart disease with a small amount of alcohol, and drinking can increase resistance to taking antihypertensive drugs.

3. Increase physical activity

Everyone who participates in sports, especially the middle-aged and elderly people and patients with hypertension, should understand their physical condition before exercising to determine the type, intensity, frequency and duration of their exercise. Specific items can be fast walking, jogging, Tai Chi, swimming, etc.

The intensity of exercise must vary from person to person. According to the requirements of scientific exercise, the commonly used exercise intensity index can be the maximum heart rate during exercise reaching 180 (or 170) minus the age. For example, the heart rate of a 50-year-old person is 120-130 beats/minute. The frequency of exercise is generally required to be 3-5 times a week, each time lasting 20-60 minutes.

4. Reduce mental stress and maintain a balanced mentality

Long-term mental stress and depression lead to sleep disorders, which is one of the important causes of hypertension and other chronic diseases. This mental state often makes them less likely to adopt a healthy lifestyle, such as alcoholism, smoking, etc., and reduces compliance with anti-hypertension treatment.

People who suffer from mental stress and psychological imbalance should reduce mental stress and change their mindset. They should treat themselves, others and society correctly, actively participate in social and collective activities, do not demand too much of themselves and others, and do not be petty.

5. Quit smoking

Smoking a regular cigarette can raise systolic blood pressure by 1.3-3.3 kPa (10-30 mmHg). Long-term and heavy smoking can cause persistent contraction of small arteries, leading to the formation of arteriosclerosis. Other studies have shown that hypertensive patients with smoking habits have reduced sensitivity to antihypertensive drugs, making it difficult to obtain satisfactory results from antihypertensive treatment, and often have to increase the dosage.

Therefore, quitting smoking is a must. For hypertensive patients who smoke, in order to reduce the uncomfortable symptoms during the quitting process and the chance of relapse, they should actively seek the help of a doctor and quit smoking successfully as soon as possible under the guidance of a doctor in combination with smoking cessation drugs.