People with cardiovascular disease or any of the “three highs” — high blood pressure, high blood lipids or high blood sugar — should be careful when enjoying a hot spring or hot bath in low temperatures, the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) said.
As temperatures dropped yesterday, many people might want to go to a hot spring to warm themselves and relax, but those with cardiovascular disease should consult a doctor first, the HPA said on Saturday, offering six tips for people, especially those with cardiovascular disease or the three highs, to bear in mind when going for a hot bath.
People should avoid staying in a hot bath or hot spring for too long — no longer than 15 minutes — if the outside temperature is cold, HPA Aging and Chronic Disease Control Division head Wu Chien-yuan (吳建遠) said.
Photo: Chiang Chih-hsiung, Taipei Times
As heat from the water can cause blood vessels to expand, leading to a drop in blood pressure, people should also avoid getting out of the water too fast, as they might faint and even possibly drown, she said.
People should drink plenty of water before, during and after taking a hot bath, as the heat can cause them to sweat more, leading to dehydration, Wu said.
People should also avoid taking a hot bath directly after a meal, especially after eating spicy food or drinking alcohol, which can also increase the heart rate, adding to the risk of a heart attack or stroke, she said.
A hot bath should be taken at least one-and-a-half to two hours after a meal, she said.
People with diabetes, hypertension or high blood lipids should be especially careful about the temperature of the water, which should be no higher than 40°C, and they should avoid alternating between hot and cold baths, as the sudden change in temperature can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke, Wu said, adding that people with diabetes might have damaged nerves and could be burned.
People with cardiovascular disease or any of the three highs should enjoy a hot spring or bath with friends or family, and bring their National Health Insurance card and any medication they might require in case there is an emergency, she said.
The HPA urged those at risk to measure their blood pressure or take medication regularly to control it, saying that if they experience chest tightness, chest pain, heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, nausea, a cold sweat, dizziness or fainting, they should immediately seek medical attention.
An ambulance should immediately be called at 119 if signs of a stroke are observed, such as an uneven smile or drooping face, weakness in the arms or difficulty speaking, the HPA said.
Menopausal women might also experience atypical symptoms of a heart attack, such as shortness of breath or back pain, it added.
China might accelerate its strategic actions toward Taiwan, the South China Sea and across the first island chain, after the US officially entered a military conflict with Iran, as Beijing would perceive Washington as incapable of fighting a two-front war, a military expert said yesterday. The US’ ongoing conflict with Iran is not merely an act of retaliation or a “delaying tactic,” but a strategic military campaign aimed at dismantling Tehran’s nuclear capabilities and reshaping the regional order in the Middle East, said National Defense University distinguished adjunct lecturer Holmes Liao (廖宏祥), former McDonnell Douglas Aerospace representative in Taiwan. If
Prosecutors in New Taipei City yesterday indicted 31 individuals affiliated with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) for allegedly forging thousands of signatures in recall campaigns targeting three Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers. The indictments stem from investigations launched earlier this year after DPP lawmakers Su Chiao-hui (蘇巧慧) and Lee Kuen-cheng (李坤城) filed criminal complaints accusing campaign organizers of submitting false signatures in recall petitions against them. According to the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office, a total of 2,566 forged recall proposal forms in the initial proposer petition were found during the probe. Among those
ECHOVIRUS 11: The rate of enterovirus infections in northern Taiwan increased last week, with a four-year-old girl developing acute flaccid paralysis, the CDC said Two imported cases of chikungunya fever were reported last week, raising the total this year to 13 cases — the most for the same period in 18 years, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The two cases were a Taiwanese and a foreign national who both arrived from Indonesia, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Deputy Director Lee Chia-lin (李佳琳) said. The 13 cases reported this year are the most for the same period since chikungunya was added to the list of notifiable communicable diseases in October 2007, she said, adding that all the cases this year were imported, including 11 from
The Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant’s license has expired and it cannot simply be restarted, the Executive Yuan said today, ahead of national debates on the nuclear power referendum. The No. 2 reactor at the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County was disconnected from the nation’s power grid and completely shut down on May 17, the day its license expired. The government would prioritize people’s safety and conduct necessary evaluations and checks if there is a need to extend the service life of the reactor, Executive Yuan spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) told a news conference. Lee said that the referendum would read: “Do
RSS