Beware of Elevated Cerebrovascular Risks During the Holiday

Health Services Uninterrupted During National Day | Beware of Elevated Cerebrovascular Risks During the Holiday

With the crisp autumn air and a nation at peace and prosperity, the National Day holiday is a time for family reunions, outings, and relaxation. However, the sudden change in daily rhythm during the holiday — combined with overeating, disrupted routines, travel fatigue, temperature fluctuations, and emotional ups and downs — pushes cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and neurological diseases into one of their peak periods of the year.

The Neuromedicine Center of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital offers this friendly reminder: while you can relax during the holiday, your brain and blood vessels must not be "overdrawn." The public should remain vigilant and enjoy a safe and healthy National Day holiday.  

Eat Moderately | Don't Let "Holiday Eating" Harm Your Blood Vessels

During National Day gatherings, festive meals and banquets are plentiful. High‑salt, high‑fat, high‑sugar diets and frequent alcohol consumption are major triggers of blood pressure spikes, increased blood viscosity, and cerebrovascular fluctuations. Short‑term excessive intake of greasy foods, sweets, tobacco, and alcohol increases the metabolic burden on blood vessels and can easily cause dizziness, chest tightness, and insufficient cerebral blood supply — and in severe cases, acute stroke.

Neuromedicine Center Health Reminders:

• Eat light and moderate meals; stop at 70% full; avoid overeating.
• Reduce intake of fried foods, fatty meats, and animal organs; eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Consume mooncakes and desserts in moderation; those with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes should minimize intake.
• Avoid excessive drinking, drinking games, and urging others to drink — alcohol is a major trigger of cerebrovascular emergencies.

Regular Routine | Stabilize Neurological State, Maintain Stable Blood Vessels

The regular routines of daily life are often disrupted during holidays — staying up late binge‑watching, sitting for long hours playing cards, all‑night entertainment, and sleeping in. Prolonged late nights and excessive fatigue cause continuous nervous tension, disordered blood pressure fluctuations, and unstable heart rate, significantly increasing the risk of cerebral infarction, headache, dizziness, and other cerebrovascular problems.

• Try to sleep early and rise early; avoid staying up late or all‑night entertainment.
• Avoid prolonged sitting; stand up and stretch every hour.
• Maintain emotional calm; avoid extreme joy or sorrow and excessive excitement.

Travel Moderately | Protect Your Cerebrovascular Health During Travel

National Day travel involves large crowds, long journeys, and significant day‑night temperature differences. Continuous physical fatigue and repeated constriction and dilation of blood vessels can easily trigger various cerebrovascular discomforts. Middle‑aged and elderly individuals and those with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes are particularly vulnerable — long journeys, exposure to cold, and high‑intensity activities all increase the risk of sudden illness.

• Add or remove clothing promptly to prevent cold‑induced blood vessel constriction.
• Patients with chronic diseases should take medication on time and at the prescribed dose; never stop medication without authorization.
• Engage in mountain climbing, hiking, and sightseeing within your physical limits; avoid overexertion.
• On long car rides, get out and move regularly to promote blood circulation and prevent thrombosis.

Stay Alert! Never Ignore These Cerebrovascular Warning Signs

Cerebrovascular emergencies during holidays often have sudden onset, rapid progression, and serious consequences. The Neuromedicine Center reminds the public: if any of the following symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately — do not delay and observe:

• Sudden dizziness, headache, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting
• Numbness or weakness on one side of the body, or walking deviation
• Crooked mouth corner, slurred speech, or slowed reactions
• Persistent palpitations, chest tightness, profuse sweating, or physical collapse
• Persistent dizziness or nausea after a head injury

The golden treatment window for stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, and other cerebrovascular diseases is extremely short. Early recognition and early medical attention are key to reducing the risk of disability and death.

Special Protection for Key Populations During the Holiday

Middle‑aged and elderly individuals: With reduced vascular elasticity and more underlying conditions, they should monitor blood pressure daily during the holiday, avoid high‑intensity morning exercise, and reduce fatigue and emotional fluctuations. Those with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, or a history of cerebrovascular disease must not indulge in eating, drinking, or staying up late during the holiday. They should adhere to standardized medication, reduce high‑intensity activities, and always safeguard vascular health.

Young and middle‑aged individuals: In recent years, cerebrovascular diseases have become increasingly younger. Staying up late, heavy drinking, high‑fat diets, and prolonged sitting are the main triggers of sudden brain diseases in young people. Even the young cannot "tough it out."

Neuromedicine Center Profile

The Neuromedicine Center was established by integrating the hospital's resources in neurology, neurosurgery, and related disciplines. It covers multiple subspecialty areas including neurology, neurosurgery, neurointervention, neurocritical care, and neurorehabilitation. Patients can complete a "one‑stop" full‑course diagnosis and treatment service at the center — from disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, psychological care, and health education to long‑term follow‑up. The center routinely provides diagnosis and treatment for common conditions such as brain tumors, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebrovascular malformations, cerebral aneurysms, and traumatic brain injury. It also performs arterial and venous thrombolysis for stroke, cerebral angiography, spinal angiography, arterial thrombectomy, intracranial artery stenosis stent implantation, and interventional embolization of cerebral aneurysms.

Writer: Du Xiaoting

First Review: Du Xiaoting

Second Review: Guo Yishan

Third Review: Cai Qinghua