Jounen Kwéyòl is one of the most festive times of the year. It’s a beautiful celebration filled with music, culture, madras, and incredible food. However, this weekend can also take a heavy toll on your heart. Many of our favourite traditional dishes are packed with salt, and celebrations often lead to drinking more alcohol than usual. This, combined with late nights and dehydration, can trigger a dangerous spike in blood pressure, potentially landing you in the emergency room instead of enjoying the festivities.
The good news is that you can definitely have fun AND keep your heart safe. “It’s fun to have fun, but you have to know how” – Dr. Seuss
Here are some tips for controlling your pressure this weekend:
- Get your medication early: Far too often, people end up with blood pressure emergencies simply because they forgot to refill their prescriptions in the holiday rush. Make sure you have enough medicine before the weekend begins, especially since many pharmacies may close early.
- Take your medication on time: If you take blood pressure medication, take it on time— especially during a holiday.
- Wash out the salt: Saltfish, smoked herring, and pigtail often have a lot of salt. Soaking them overnight, and then boiling them twice (discarding the water each time) helps to remove the excess salt.
- Consider fresh seasonings instead of seasoning cubes: seasoning cubes and packets often have a lot of salt. Using fresh chives, thyme, garlic, onions, celery, and seasoning peppers packs flavour without the added salt.
- Eat lots of vegetables and fruits: My patients all know what I’ll say next here -fill half your plate with fresh fruits and vegetables. Options like cucumber, avocado, bananas, and fresh coconut water are rich in potassium, which helps your body naturally flush out excess salt.
- Drink lots of water! It’s hot outside! So be sure to keep a bottle of water with you as often as you can, so you can sip your water throughout the day.
- Pace your drinks: Drinking alcohol can raise your blood pressure. If you choose to drink, be mindful of your limits and make sure you are drinking lots of water as well. Remember to drink responsibly – don’t drink and drive
- Keep moving: keeping up with whatever exercise routine you already have in place will also help with relaxation and controlling your blood pressure
- Know your numbers! Check your blood pressure regularly. YOU CANNOT FEEL WHEN YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS HIGH. The only way to know is to check. If you notice your blood pressure is getting higher, call your Doctor- the sooner, the better.
Know the Warning Signs
An extreme spike in blood pressure can lead to a stroke. Act immediately if you or someone near you shows any of these “FAST” signs:
- F – Face: One side of the face droops or is numb.
- A – Arms: One arm feels weak
- S – Speech: Words are slurred, garbled, or hard to understand.
- T – Time: Call emergency services immediately.
ALSO: Any sudden, severe headache, chest pain, or shortness of breath are also red flags that require urgent medical care.
Jounen Kwéyòl is all about keeping our rich culture alive. Let’s make sure we keep ourselves healthy and alive to see many more!
Bon Fete Kwéyòl!
Dr Rachel Thwaites-Williams,
Family Physician and Public Health Specialist
