What are the most common brain-damaging habits in your life? How can your brain’s aging be slowed down? Traditional Chinese medicine offers some suggestions regarding brain health.
Lack of oxygen
Although your brain accounts for only 2 percent of your body’s weight, oxygen consumption is the largest. Some studies have proven that 15 percent of the heart’s blood supply is sent to your brain to maintain your brain’s energy and oxygen consumption, so oxygen is indispensable for your brain.
If there is a lack of blood and oxygen for 5 seconds, dizziness and mental confusion will occur. Fainting may occur if this time is extended to 15 seconds, and your brain will be irreversibly damaged if this time is extended to 5 minutes, with the damage visible via magnetic resonance and CT scan.
Oxygen is vital to your brain. However, many people may be suffering from chronic hypoxia without realizing it. Typical early symptoms of chronic oxygen deprivation in your brain are troubled sleeping and memory loss. Dizziness, headaches, memory loss, poor concentration, and insomnia may follow. If you encounter the above problems and cannot find a clear cause, please be vigilant about this possibility.
Lack of fresh air
Usually, those who like to stay indoors and do not like to open the window will easily fall victim to cerebral hypoxia due to poor ventilation, which will cause the indoor oxygen concentration to decline.
A test has shown that, in the case of closed windows and doors, the oxygen content of the bedroom is 20 percent, while the general oxygen concentration in the atmosphere is about 21 percent. People who stay in a closed room on a long-term base will suffer from oxygen deprivation, leading to headaches, emotional instability, and insomnia, and brain atrophy may occur over time.
Five habits are harmful to the brain
1. Obesity
Obesity is the source of various chronic diseases. A study pointed out that the brains of obese people are 10 years older than those of thin people of the same age. Especially after middle age, obese people’s brains age faster.
2. Sleeping with your head covered
Sleeping with your head covered will increase the concentration of carbon dioxide under the blanket and reduce the oxygen concentration. A deficiency of brain oxygen supplementation overnight can easily cause low oxygen content in the brain’s blood vessels and, consequently, damage the brain.
3. No socialization
A lobe area in the brain specializes in language, and talking often promotes brain development and exercises brain function. This area deteriorates in silent people, and their brains start to age. Little interaction with others is one of the symptoms or pre-symptoms in many patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
4. Lack of sleep
The brain’s primary way of eliminating fatigue is sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation or poor quality of sleep will only accelerate the decline of brain cells.
5. Not stimulating your brain
As the saying goes: “The brain will rust if it is not used.” The best way to prevent your brain from aging is to think more. Like the body, your brain follows the principle of “use it or lose it.” Your brain will become useless if you don’t like to think and read.
How can we supplement the brain’s oxygen?
Open windows and ventilate
Keeping windows open and ventilating properly can increase fresh air, reduce carbon dioxide, and prevent and control viruses and bacteria. The windows should be opened for ventilation 2 to 3 times a day, 30 minutes each time, and convective ventilation should be provided as much as possible. At the same time, people living on the lower floors, in addition to natural ventilation, can also choose a forced air supply or exhaust.
Eat more ‘brain food’
To delay brain aging, your diet should include more lecithin, unsaturated fatty acid-rich foods, and high-quality protein and vitamins. Fish, dairy products, green leafy vegetables, flaxseed, nuts, and eggs should be part of a brain-healthy diet.
Do aerobic exercise
Aerobic exercise can promote blood circulation, enhance cardiopulmonary function, and increase the body’s oxygen content. At least three to five times a week, 30 minutes or more of aerobic exercise is recommended. Walking, jogging, swimming, rope skipping, cycling, and Tai chi are good options.
Keep learning
Studies have shown that learning new skills constantly reshapes the brain’s function and structure. Therefore, theoretically, as long as we keep learning, we can effectively delay brain aging.
Take naps
Research shows that napping can effectively prevent dementia and can improve mental agility. The best time to nap is from 11:00 to 1:00 p.m., with a rest of 15 minutes to half an hour, which can refresh your brain and replenish your energy.
Actively prevent related diseases
Diseases such as high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, obesity, and diabetes can affect brain function. Preparing for rainy days and avoiding the controllable factors of high-risk diseases can significantly reduce the damage these diseases cause to brain function in the future and achieve early detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
Do finger exercises
- Rub your hands: With some force, rub the palms of both hands and massage fingers for 1 minute; the palm will feel slightly warm.
- Press your fingers: Open both hands, press the other hand’s palm in turn with the thumb, and feel the fingers slightly compressed.
- Pull your fingers: Open one hand and use the other hand to pull the fingers from the root slowly to the tip, which helps promote blood circulation in the fingers.
- Stretch your fingers: Make a fist with both hands, start from the index finger, and open the fingers outward. Use a little force when doing this exercise to achieve a slight stretching feeling.
Translated by Audrey Wang and edited by Amanda
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