Five Holiday Tips for Managing Hypertension

As the holiday season approaches, gatherings and social events become more frequent. Many people not only gain weight during the holidays but also experience significant increases in their blood pressure, sometimes requiring hospitalization.

Dr. Wai-Kuen Lam, an internist at Rendr, observes a noticeable increase in hypertensive patients experiencing discomfort after the holiday season each year. These patients often show increased weight and blood pressure, along with symptoms such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, and leg swelling. In severe cases, patients may be hospitalized due to heart failure.

These hypertension complications are often linked to indulgent eating habits during the holidays. During gatherings and dining out, people tend to consume excessive amounts of salt. High sodium levels in the body make it difficult to eliminate fluids, resulting in elevated blood pressure and increased strain on organs such as the heart and kidneys. Additionally, during the holidays, people often drink excessively, skip exercise, have irregular sleep patterns, stay up late, and neglect blood pressure monitoring, all of which are detrimental to controlling hypertension.

Dr. Lam recommends that hypertension patients pay attention to the following five aspects: 

1. Control weight, maintaining a BMI (body mass index, calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters) between 18 and 25. 

2. Limit daily salt intake to less than 2 grams. Spices can be used to maintain flavor in meals. 

3. Adequately supplement foods rich in potassium, such as bananas, berries, and tomatoes. 

4. Engage in 15 minutes of exercise daily, or 30 minutes every other day. 

5. Self-monitor blood pressure daily and keep records to help doctors track blood pressure trends.