Heart Attack In Winter: Do you know that the risk of heart attack increases in the winter months?
According to a study published in PubMed Central in 2013, there is a clear seasonal trend of heart problems. Heart diseases increase during the cold months and such a seasonal trend has been seen in many countries.
But this is not the only study which shows that cold weather has a bad effect on our heart.
One such German study states that whenever the temperature drops by 2.9 degrees Celsius in a 24-hour period, the risk of heart attack increases by 11%. Another study published in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease in 2016, in which researchers reached the same conclusion after examining more than 1,70,000 cases of ischemic stroke.
Doctors have also agreed with these studies. What is the reason behind the increase in heart attack cases during winter? Who is at risk? What to do to avoid heart attack in winter? Let us know from experts.
What is the reason behind the increase in heart attack cases during winter?
Dr. Atul Mathur, Executive Director of Interventional Cardiology at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Okhla Road, says that vasoconstriction is a major reason behind the increase in heart attacks in winter.
As heart experts always say, we should take special care of our heart in winter because due to cold weather, the arteries of our heart shrink, due to which blood pressure increases.
Experts also mention other reasons for increasing cases of heart attacks in winter.
- Consumption of fatty foods that give heat increases during winter.
- The increasing cases of pneumococcal lung infections and influenza increase the strain on people whose hearts are already weak.
- Less sweating during winter means that people who have a weak heart accumulate more water in their body, which can lead to heart failure.
- Increasing pollution and smog increases heart diseases
Who is at risk?
Dr. Bimal Chhajer, a former advisor at AIIMS and founder of the Science and Art of Living Heart Institute, said that anyone who has high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure and diabetes is at risk.
Apart from this, people who smoke, are overweight or obese and live under high stress are also at risk of heart attack. The elderly are also at risk.
