Wearing body-sculpting underwear and compression sportswear poses risks for people with high blood pressure, Taipei-based cardiologist Chiu Chiung-zuan (邱俊仁) said.
Chiu, head of Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital’s department of cardiology, said that compression pants and body-sculpting underwear have a negative effect on blood circulation and cardiovascular health, especially for people who have high blood pressure.
A Ministry of Health and Welfare study estimated that as many as 240,000 people in Taiwan’s 18 to 39 age group are unaware that they have high blood pressure.
Chiu said that people with high blood pressure who wear body-sculpting clothing for prolonged periods might experience hypoxia due to excessive compression of the body, which can impede normal breathing and circulation, with symptoms including chest tightness, nausea and vertigo.
A 50-year-old female patient surnamed Liu (劉) developed headaches, neck stiffness, blurred vision, a tight chest, poor sleep, vertigo and dizzy spells as a result of wearing body-sculpting underwear combined with undiagnosed high blood pressure, Chiu said.
Liu one day fainted and her systolic blood pressure reading was 220 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). She was sent to the hospital’s emergency room, Chiu said.
Compression pants also pose a health risk to people with high blood pressure, Chiu said.
“Even for people with normal blood pressure, if they often wear the type of clothing that compresses the chest, stomach, hips and thighs, it can elevate their blood pressure,” he said.
Many people mistake symptoms of hypertension — headache, panting, stiff neck and shoulders, blurred vision — as only temporary reactions from mental stress or tiredness, Chiu said.
Smoking, eating a high-sodium diet, obesity and a lack of exercise are likely causes of high blood pressure, and people should actively monitor their health and seek treatment when necessary, Chiu said.
Chiu said that instead of wearing tight clothing to appear thinner, the healthier method is to reduce body weight by changing lifestyles, such as eating a balanced diet and food low in sodium, quitting smoking and exercising regularly.
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