Walk a hundred steps after meals, and you'll live to be ninety-nine.
However, Mr. Zhang (pseudonym), who is over 60 years old, recently experienced sudden shoulder and back pain during a post-meal walk. He initially thought it was just a result of daily sports injury. To his surprise, upon going to the hospital for examination, he discovered that he had suffered from acute myocardial infarction.
Shu Yue, director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department at Hainan Chengmei Hospital, reminds that sudden toothache, back pain, abdominal pain, etc. should be alerted to the possibility of myocardial infarction, and an electrocardiogram examination can be performed if necessary.
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Taking a walk after meals can trigger myocardial infarction
It is reported that after dinner one day, Mr. Zhang went out for a walk as usual. Not long after, he felt a sprain in his left shoulder and back, with pain in his shoulder and unbearable soreness and swelling in his arm. He returned home to rest. To his surprise, by 9 pm, Mr. Zhang's pain had not eased, and he immediately went to the hospital for treatment.
After examination, the doctor found that Mr. Zhang did not suffer from a sprain. However, based on the symptom description, the pain in Mr. Zhang's shoulder and neck might be related to his heart. Therefore, a consultation was immediately conducted. The electrocardiogram and myocardial enzyme spectrum tests indicated that Mr. Zhang had acute myocardial infarction, and his condition was critical.
After communicating with the family, Mr. Zhang immediately underwent emergency PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention). During the procedure, it was found that his right coronary artery was severely stenotic, with a stenosis degree of over 90%, posing a risk of sudden death at any time. The cardiovascular disease team immediately performed a coronary stenting surgery for Mr. Zhang, which reopened the occluded blood vessel and restored smooth blood flow. Mr. Zhang's symptoms were effectively alleviated, and the pain in his left shoulder and back had completely disappeared.
Actually, Mr. Zhang's situation is not an isolated case. After consulting relevant information, the reporter learned that similar situations have occurred in some provinces and cities. Mr. Wang, a 52-year-old from Hunan, has no health issues in general and is accustomed to taking a walk after meals. One day, just after dinner, he went downstairs for his usual walk. Unexpectedly, he suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, fell to the ground, turned pale, and his hands and feet were ice-cold. Fortunately, a passerby called 120 in time, and after being sent to the hospital, he was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction.
Mr. Li, 57 years old, also experienced sudden chest pain while taking a walk after dinner and was urgently sent to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction. It is reported that he had problems with "three highs" (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol) in his body, but he didn't take it seriously. Once, he overeated and thought that taking a walk would help digest, but he had an accident after walking for less than ten minutes.
Regarding this, domestic medical experts have stated that taking a walk after meals is regarded by many as a "standard health practice," but it is not suitable for everyone. Immediately after a meal, a large amount of blood is concentrated in the digestive tract, leading to a relative decrease in blood supply to the heart and brain. If one engages in physical activity at this time, especially moderate-intensity activities such as brisk walking or climbing, the heart's workload will increase, potentially leading to myocardial ischemia or even myocardial infarction. This is especially true for individuals who have the "three highs" (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol), a family history of coronary heart disease, or who often experience chest tightness and fatigue. They should exercise caution.
Research data shows that cardiovascular diseases have ranked as the leading cause of death among urban and rural residents in China for several consecutive years, with an annual death toll of up to 3.5 million. Among these, improper post-meal activities are one of the important factors that induce acute cardiovascular events.
Myocardial infarction is not exclusive to the elderly
Nowadays, taking a walk after meals has become a daily "must" for most people. So, how do the residents of Haikou view this situation? Over the past few days, our reporter has conducted interviews and investigations.
Mr. Li, who lives on Haidian Island in Haikou City, said, "Every evening after dinner, I accompany my wife to take a walk in our residential area, which has become a habit. As for whether it may cause myocardial infarction, I haven't heard of such cases around me. However, we take a leisurely walk after dinner, aiming to digest our food, rather than walking quickly or taking a long walk."
"I have seen a case of sudden myocardial infarction before, which occurred to a young man who drank ice water aggressively after intense exercise on the sports field. I haven't seen a case triggered by taking a walk after meals, but I can remind my family members about it. After all, the elderly in our family all like to take a walk after meals, and sometimes they even walk long distances with friends," said Mr. Chen, a citizen.
It is understood that the most common symptoms of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are sudden chest pain, chest tightness, restlessness, profuse sweating, and even syncope. However, in fact, AMI can also present with many atypical symptoms. Pain in the neck, shoulder, back, stomach, throat, teeth, upper abdomen, etc. may also be manifestations of angina pectoris. Due to the atypical symptoms, it is often easily misdiagnosed.
It is worth mentioning that myocardial infarction does not only affect people in their 70s and 80s. In recent years, the incidence rate of myocardial infarction has significantly increased among middle-aged people aged 40 to 60. Patients who have long-term smoking, improper diet, or underlying diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes are all high-risk groups for acute myocardial infarction. When experiencing prolonged and unexplained symptoms such as shoulder pain, sore throat, nasal pain, toothache, and upper abdominal pain, one should be highly vigilant and consider whether it is related to the heart. It is recommended to seek medical examination and treatment in a timely manner.
Regarding post-meal walks, Shu Yue stated that citizens should avoid overeating and undergo regular physical examinations. "Generally, it's fine to eat until you are about 70% full. After eating, avoid exercising, especially for the elderly. You should rest for at least 30 minutes, and avoid suddenly taking a hot bath or drinking a large amount of water. Additionally, regular physical examinations are important, especially for those with 'three highs' (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol), obesity, or a family history of disease. If you experience discomfort during post-meal activities, stop immediately and sit down to rest. If the symptoms persist for a long time, call the emergency number 120 in a timely manner," Shu Yue said.
Shu Yue told reporters that after meals, one should control the distance during a walk. Generally, a distance of 6500-7500 steps is optimal, and the time should be controlled between 19:00 and 20:00, which is conducive to the rapid digestion of food by the intestines and maintaining a pleasant mood. "Walking after meals is the most easily achievable aerobic exercise for citizens. At the same time, this method also accelerates blood circulation in the lower limbs, reduces the occurrence of thrombosis, and enhances heart function."
Shu Yue reminded that acute myocardial infarction should be treated as soon as possible, as the quicker the rescue, the better the outcome. If the golden rescue time is missed, it will greatly delay treatment and cause irreversible damage. "It is recommended that citizens undergo an electrocardiogram and blood lipid examination once a year, which are the most basic and practical measures. Those who can afford it can also undergo cardiac color Doppler ultrasound, which can detect problems early. In addition, young people who stay up late for a long time, are obese, have a family history, sit for long periods, and drink milk tea and cola should also undergo regular examinations, as these are also factors that can induce myocardial infarction," Shu Yue said.
Expert Introduction
Shu Yue, Deputy Chief Physician
Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation Department
Hainan Free Trade Port E-type Talents
Medical expertise:
Skilled in conventional treatment and cardiac rehabilitation therapy for cardiovascular diseases and critically ill patients; exercise therapy and exercise healthcare for hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and heart disease; chronic disease management, cardiorespiratory endurance assessment, and physical fitness training.
Source: Coconut Network/Haiba News