Yes, the risk of cardiovascular diseases will rise in Fall and Winter.
As the weather gets colder in Fall and Winter, the stimulation of cold often causes blood vessels to constrict and heartbeat to speed up, making it easier for heart attacks, heart failure and other heart diseases to occur.
Attention: In addition to keeping warm and adjusting medication to keep blood pressure stable, you must pay attention to the following heart disease warning signs.
1. Chest pain
Chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack, typically make you feel like a stone pressing against the chest. Moreover, the pain may also appear in the left shoulder, jaw, and possibly in the stomach.
Heart attack is a disease that can kill you at any time! If you experience chest pain, go to the hospital promptly so that your doctor can determine if it is a heart attack.
If you go to the hospital because of stomach pain or shoulder pain, your doctor recommends checking the EKG (electrocardiogram).
Of course you can test EKG in you home by yourself with a portable EKG monitor (click here to know more, see pics as following).
2. Palpitations
Palpitations are a common symptom of cardiac arrhythmia. Some people may feel that their heart has missed a beat, while others may suddenly feel a series of rapid, irregular heartbeats.
If you feel palpitations occasionally, it is usually not a big problem, mostly related to exertion and mental state; but if palpitations occur frequently, it may be a manifestation of disease, like some arrhythmias, hyperthyroidism, etc.
In the absence of hunger, exertion, etc., the presence of palpitations, along with dizziness, is likely to be signs of the more dangerous ventricular arrhythmia, which should not be taken lightly but to be treated immediately in the hospital.
3. Syncope (Fainting)
Syncope is a sudden, transient loss of consciousness that can recover on its own. The occurrence of syncope means that there is a transient abnormality in the blood supply to the brain.
Among patients with hypertension, this condition is likely to be a transient ischemic attack, implying an increased risk of stroke. And measures of prevention must be actively taken to minimize the risk of stroke.
4. Fatigue
Patients with hypertension who often feel tired and fatigued for no apparent reason may have an abnormally functioning heart. It is recommended that heart health lab tests be performed as soon as possible.
5. Breathing difficulties
Whether it is heart disease, or lung disease, it can cause shortness of breath and dyspnea.
For patients with hypertension, it is more important to be alert to shortness of breath and dyspnea that occurs at night, especially if you are woken up in your sleep and must sit up to breathe normally, which is likely to be a sign of heart failure. Once it occurs, go to the hospital in time to check the heart function and adjust the medication to avoid deterioration of the condition.
How to take care of your heart?
In addition to paying attention to the symptoms mentioned above, it is even more important to take care of your heart in general.
Control blood pressure and blood sugar well.
Refuse to smoke or to breathe second-hand smoke.
Develop a good habit of regular exercise.
Keep adopting a healthy diet.
Have regular medical checkups to know your heart health.
Monitor your heart every day with a 24-hour holter monitor. Know and record your heart condition analyzed by Wellue AI algorithm. Share your AI ECG report with your family doctor.
A pulse oximeter is commonly known as a device that can measure SpO2 (oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in a patient’s arterial blood) in a non-invasive way. Now the technological advancements have made it possible to either provide continuous monitoring or spot-checking.
Real-time monitoring of blood oxygen levels now allows clinicians and patients to actually diagnose illnesses such as hypoxemia and sleep apnea at an early stage. Thus continuous monitoring of blood oxygen saturation has become vital in personal health management as it presents an indication of whether the lungs are functioning properly.
People who want to monitor their oxygen levels at home may wonder know how to choose the right oxygen monitor. Here are some tips collected by Wellue.
How to Choose the Right Pulse Oximeter
When you are going to choose the suitable home-use continuous oxygen monitor, better to refer to choosing tips as following.
1. Certification check & Review reference
Before paying for your order, you have to remember that accuracy is the most important factor to decide whether to buy medical equipment. The best way to make sure of the accuracy before you actually use the monitor is to check for the certifications and refer to the customer reviews. Someone who has bought and used the product will have their sounds online to phrase or make complaints, which sometimes can help you judge the quality.
Some reliable certifications are provided by a few organizations, such as the FDA and CE. Those organizations will review the quality and standards to assure the accuracy of the medical device.
2. Oxygen monitor type selection
In terms of design, if you do not consider other factors, just choose your favorite type, ring, or wrist, whatever is okay. But if you want to monitor the SpO2 for the whole night, we will strongly recommend you to choose the continuous overnight oxygen monitor rather than the fingertip pulse oximeter. As you know, the fingertip pulse oximeter uses the spot-checking approaches. If you do not have the need to monitor the oxygen saturation for several hours, the cheap fingertip pulse oximeter is more suitable.
3. Price & Features comparison
The price of oxygen monitors ranges from 10USD to 200USD. The general fingertip pulse oximeter is much cheaper and you can find one in pharmacies or online stores. As for the continuous overnight oxygen monitor, the price is slightly higher, as its function is improved well.
In terms of features, you can make your decision about what you need. Some have a bright and clear display; some are water-resistant; some can achieve remote monitoring. Also remember to consider if it is light to carry, comfortable to wear, easy to use, durable and portable.
Recommending the Right Pulse Oximeter – Wellue Continuous Oxygen Monitors
Some Benefits of Wellue Continuous Overnight Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor
Continuous oxygen monitoring is a better way to prescribe long-term oxygen therapy.
First, it can monitor one’s oxygen saturation over time, providing more utility for trends over time instead of absolute thresholds.
Second, if your oxygen levels are dangerously low or your abnormal heart rates are detected, it can alert with vibration or audio alarm on the free APP ViHealth, such as O2Ring continuous oxygen monitor and SleepU oxygen monitor, which is particularly helpful for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
Third, using this product to monitor the blood oxygen saturation actually could offer peace of mind to people with obstructive sleep apnea, chronic respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, or people under anesthesia.
Fourth, it can also help assess the need for supplemental oxygen. For instance, when this is done overnight, a continuous measurement can be graphed and stored on your phone. The graph helps the doctor see if you have enough oxygen in your body when you sleep and ensure the amount of supplemental oxygen.
Fifth, the continuously monitored blood oxygen saturation level will indicate dangerous side effects in people taking drugs that affect breathing or oxygen saturation.
An 86-year-old man was sent to our emergency room for shortness of breath. Chest film revealed cardiomegaly and increased opacity over right hemithorax and blunt bilateral costophrenic angles. Sonography was ordered to determine whether the right hemithorax was filled with pleural effusion or it was a consolidation of the right lung.
Chest film showed increased opacity over the right hemithorax.
We used Eagleview ultrasound during ward rounds and a diagnosis of pleural effusion was made immediately. The video showed the general survey of the patient’s right and left hemithorax. In the general survey, we would start from the side with fewer problems, and place the probe perpendicularly to the ribs at the mid-scapular line and shift downward gradually. When we reach the costophrenic angle, we would rotate the probe parallel to the ribs to see the image without shadows. In the survey of left hemithorax, the bat-wing sign was seen initially that represented the normal lung field, and then hypoechoic pleural effusion appeared. The still image showed a small amount of pleural effusion. on the left side and a large amount of pleural effusion on the left side.
On the contrary, hypoechoic pleural effusion was detected initially on the right side, presenting a large amount of pleural effusion. The collapsed lung is barely seen on the still image due to the pleural effusion is too large.
Small amount pleural effusion with left lower lobe passive atelectasis, diaphragm, and spleen.
A large amount of pleural effusion, diaphragm, and liver.
Under the left decubitus position, after sterilization and local anesthesia, thoracocentesis was performed over the right 6th ICS at the posterior axillary line. Then, a pig-tail catheter, 8 Fr., was inserted over the same route via a two-step method and fixed at 15cm under Eagleview ultrasound guidance.
The sonography demonstrated a pigtail catheter inserted into the pleural space filled with pleural effusion and a collapsed lung.
Chest film showed a pigtail catheter inserted into the right pleural space.
We checked the pigtail catheter position again after the procedure and the chest film showed the pigtail catheter is in the right position. His breath smoother after then.
Generally, the Eagleview ultrasound completed its mission to help clinicians to diagnose pleural effusion and did help we do some sono-guided interventions. The image quality of the convex side is fair as expected. Maybe the image quality would improve in the next vision with more elements.
Yoga can help you improve your balance, flexibility, and strength. It can help you relax and relieve stress. As if that’s not enough, yoga also has the potential to improve heart health. According to research published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine(1), yoga demonstrates the potential to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Let the music move you
Whether you prefer a rumba beat or two-step tune, dancing makes for a great heart-healthy workout. Like other forms of aerobic exercise, it raises your heart rate and gets your lungs pumping. It also burns up to 200 calories or more per hour reports the Mayo Clinic(2).
Stop smoking—no ifs, ands, or butts
There are many steps you can take to help protect your health and blood vessels. Avoiding tobacco is one of the best.
In fact, smoking is one of the top controllable risk factors for heart disease. If you smoke or use other tobacco products, the American Heart Association(AHA), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute(NHLBI)(3), and Certers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC)(4) all encourage you to quit. It can make a huge difference to not just your heart, but your overall health, too.
Be a kid
Fitness doesn’t have to be boring. Let your inner Child take the lead by enjoying an evening of roller skating, bowling, or laser tag. You can have fun while burning calories and giving your heart a workout.
Move it, move it, move it
No matter how much you weigh, sitting for long periods of time could shortens your lifespan, warn researchers in the Archives of Internal Medicine and the American Heart Association(5). Couch potato and desk jockey lifestyles seem to have an unhealthy effect on blood fats and blood sugar. If you work at a dest, remember to take regular breaks to move around. Go for a stroll on your lunch break, and enjoy regular exercise in your leisure time.
Make time for breakfast
The first meal of the day is an important one. Eating a nutritious breakfast every day can help you maintain a healthy diet and weight. To build a heart-healthy meal, reach for: -Whole grains, such as oatmeal, whole-grain cereals, or whole-wheat toast.
-Lean protein sources, such as turkey bacon or a small serving of nuts or peanut butter
-Low-fat dairy products, such as low-fat milk, yogurt, or cheese.
-Fruits and vegetables
Know your numbers
Keep your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides in check is important for good heart health. Learn the optimal levels for your gender and age group. Take steps to reach and maintain those levels. And remember to schedule regular check-ups with your doctor. If necessary, check your heart rate and record EKG on a regular basis to detect early risk.
Wellue has good cardiovascular coverage: Blood pressure, heart rate, heart rhyth, SpO2, Blood sugar…
You can manage your own health data on your phone and share the data with your doctors.
Is winter more cruel to the elderly? Absolutely true!
Winter is really the Great Divide, which is the period of the high incidence of these 4 diseases! Remember to remind your family!
Is winter really the Great Divide for middle-aged and elderly people? This is not a rumor, but a truth.
According to the research, the season does affect the mortality rate of the population, and the cold season has a greater impact on the mortality rate of middle-aged and elderly people, especially in December and February.
Why is it so cruel to middle-aged and elderly people in winter?
The reason may be: cold.
However, cold is not the main cause of death. Some basic diseases induced or aggravated by cold stimulation, such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, etc., are “behind the scenes.”
What are the high incidence diseases of the elderly in winter?
1. Cardiovascular disease
Hypertension, coronary heart disease (often manifested as angina pectoris, myocardial infarction), heart failure, etc.
Chelation therapy and heart disease treatment concept as an alternative medicine for human blood circulation disease with 3D illustration elements.
Cause:
A sudden drop in temperature will promote vasoconstriction, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, and increased myocardial oxygen consumption. Coupled with cold stimulation, it will aggravate heart vasospasm, coronary plaques are easily ruptured, and more likely to cause myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular diseases.
Symptoms:
Cardiovascular disease, especially myocardial infarction, will have some typical symptoms, such as chest pain and nausea. Some people may only have chest tightness or chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
Generally, the pain range is the size of a palm, but some people may show discomfort in the entire chest, even shoulders, left arm, neck, teeth and other parts. In addition, there may be symptoms such as restlessness, profuse sweating, dizziness, and extreme fear.
Prevention method:
Quit smoking and drinking;
6~12 in the morning is the dangerous time for myocardial infarction. It is best not to go out for morning exercises in the morning in winter;
Remember to wear more clothes and keep warm when the temperature drops;
Patients with hypertension should take medication regularly. Stopping the medication without authorization will cause poor blood pressure control and even cause myocardial infarction;
Ensure daily nutritional balance and try to avoid high-sugar, high-salt and high-oil foods;
Rest more, avoid heavy physical work, and perform appropriate soothing exercises;
Seek medical attention promptly and treat as directed by your doctor.
Note: In addition, winter is also a period of high incidence of aortic dissection, and hypertension is the main cause. This disease is an emergency. Once the chest, back or abdomen suddenly appears torn like severe pain, you should be sent to the emergency department of the hospital in time.
O2Ring Oximeter
Continuous Ring Oxygen Monitor
Detailed analysis and records of overnight blood oxygen levels, heart rates, and body movements. It generates high-resolution trend charts every 4 seconds.
Cerebral infarction, including ischemic cerebral infarction and hemorrhagic cerebral infarction (hemorrhagic, commonly known as “cerebral hemorrhage”).
Cause:
Hypertension is the most important risk factor for stroke.
After 55 years of age, the incidence rate rises significantly, and doubles every 10 years; while the temperature drop in winter may cause vasoconstriction, increased blood pressure, and insufficient blood supply to the brain, which may induce cerebral infarction.
In addition, atherosclerosis and atrial fibrillation are also “behind the scenes.”
Symptoms:
When a cerebral infarction occurs, the typical symptoms are dizziness, unbalanced walking, and easy falling; headaches are severe or persistent; suddenly feel numbness on one side of the face or hands and feet, and some are numbness in the tongue, lip, or numbness in the upper and lower limbs; Sudden confusion, speech difficulties; sudden inability to see things, blurred vision, etc.
Prevention method:
Avoid severe cold and keep warm;
Avoid mental tension and emotional excitement, and maintain an optimistic and happy mood;
Patients with hypertension should monitor their blood pressure on time, keep their blood pressure stable, take the medication as prescribed by the doctor, and do not stop or reduce the dose without authorization.
Because of the cold, the elderly do not like to go out for sports, but sit at home for a long time and watch TV or stay in bed for a long time. These will cause the blood return of the lower limbs to be blocked, leading to blood stasis; in addition, the elderly have reduced muscle tone and blood vessel degeneration. Changes and slowing of blood circulation in cold weather can easily induce venous thrombosis in the lower extremities.
Symptoms:
When venous thrombosis of the lower extremities occurs, the affected legs will usually be swollen and painful, and the skin will be bruised and purple. In severe cases, chronic ulcers of the lower extremities may occur. If not treated in time, the thrombosis may fall off and cause serious complications-pulmonary embolism.
Prevention method:
Do not sit for a long time, and do soothing indoor or outdoor exercises appropriately;
Outdoor sports should not be carried out prematurely; pay attention to perspiration in time to keep warm after exercise.
Asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, flu, pneumonia, etc.
Cause:
In winter, some areas often have haze and dust, which can easily induce respiratory allergic diseases;
In addition, in the winter, the temperature is low and the air is dry, bacteria and viruses especially like this environment, and respiratory infectious diseases are more likely to spread.
Studies have also shown that a low-temperature and dry environment can increase mortality from influenza and pneumonia.
It is worth noting that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is mainly caused by smoking, manifested as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and its damage to the lungs is irreversible.
Symptoms:
Different respiratory diseases have different symptoms, but there are also similarities, such as: recurrent wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, cough, sputum and other symptoms.
Prevention method:
Although it is cold, open windows regularly for ventilation to keep indoor air circulating;
Do not smoke, avoid second-hand smoke and kitchen fumes;
In dry and air-polluted places, air purifiers and humidifiers can be used;
People at high risk of allergies or asthma should avoid allergens;
Keep warm and avoid bronchial asthma caused by cold;
Patients with asthma should insist on medication and review regularly.
Wellue Oxylink™
Remote Oxygen Monitor
Monitor Oxygen Level And Heart Rate On Your Phone Via Bluetooth Or Wifi.
Continuously Track Blood Oxygen Levels and Heart Rate.
