3 things people with high blood pressure should avoid after meals

After meals, people with high blood pressure should limit the following habits because they can affect blood pressure.

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People with high blood pressure should not lie down immediately after eating.

Many people have the habit of lying down right after eating to relax or because they feel tired. However, this is not good for people with high blood pressure, according to the health website Healthline (USA).

According to information from the non-profit medical center Cleveland Clinic (USA), lying down after eating will cause the digestive system to work in an unfavorable position, which can easily cause acid reflux, bloating, and even affect cardiovascular function in people with underlying diseases.

In addition, the elderly or those with high blood pressure may also experience hypotension after eating, especially lying down after eating. This phenomenon causes blood pressure to drop suddenly because more blood is rushed to the intestines to digest food. Lying down after eating further disrupts blood distribution, reducing blood flow to the brain and causing hypotension.

Therefore, after meals, people with high blood pressure should sit or walk gently for 30 minutes to aid digestion and stabilize blood pressure.

Drink tea or coffee right after eating

Many people have the habit of drinking tea or coffee after a main meal. However, for people with high blood pressure, caffeine in coffee and some types of tea can cause blood pressure to increase rapidly in a short time. Research in the American Journal of Hypertension found that caffeine can increase blood pressure by 5-10 mmHg in sensitive people.

If people with high blood pressure want to drink tea or coffee, they should wait at least 1-2 hours after eating to avoid affecting blood pressure and digestion.

Do not bathe immediately after eating

Bathing after eating, especially with hot water, will change the distribution of blood circulation in the body. Because after a meal, blood will flow to the digestive system to support the digestion and absorption of nutrients. If you bathe immediately after eating, especially with hot water, the blood vessels in the skin will dilate, causing blood to disperse from the digestive system and flow to the skin surface.

This not only causes bloating and indigestion, but also causes blood pressure to fluctuate. For people with high blood pressure, this fluctuation can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and even stroke. Therefore, it is best to wait at least 30-60 minutes after a meal before bathing to ensure stable circulation and digestion, according to Healthline .