How Does Cold Weather Affects your Heart?
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Winters have almost arrived, and the news or incidents about people suffering from heart issues arise every year in winter. A thought always pops up in your mind: why does this happen and how does cold weather affect your heart? Understanding the relationship between cold weather and heart health is crucial for everyone, especially those with some kind of heart issue. In this blog, we’ll explore the explanation behind how cold does weather affects your heart and how to protect your heart in cold weather.
Why Cold Weather Can Be Dangerous for Your Heart
Numerous changes happen in your body during cold weather; as the temperature outside decreases, the body wants to preserve the heat and maintain the core temperature. These physiological changes occur because your body wants to protect you from the cold, but these changes put an individual at a certain risk if they are old or have some heart disease. Discover how does cold weather affects your heart in the blog.
Blood Vessel Constriction and Increased Blood Pressure
One of the answers to how does cold weather affects your heart is that during winter, our body adapts to temperature changes, and due to this, blood vessel constricts which increases the resistance against blood flow. In return, the heart has to compensate, and it pumps harder to maintain the blood flow for our body.
For those with heart problems, it can be an issue. When your heart pumps harder, the blood pressure increases—causing strain. People who suffer from hypertension or heart disease may feel it more intensely; if the load persists, it can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Cold Weather Can Trigger Heart Attacks.
Cold weather can trigger a heart attack and also increase the risk of it, when the cold arrives, blood vessels constrict, because there is a drop in temperature, due to this the body works more to maintain the heat, causing the blood pressure to rise and adding strain on the heart, that can lead to heart attack. People who are at risk should not physically exert themselves by participating in intense workouts and shoveling snow.
Shoveling snow should be avoided for those who are suffering from heart issues, when you shovel snow it requires physical exertion and exposure to cold weather is not an ideal situation, this puts additional stress on the heart, making the person more susceptible to heart attack.
Sedentary Lifestyle
As winter arrives people work less, they prefer to be inside their homes and be comfortable this results in less physical activity and can lead to weight gain, being overweight or obese is a risk factor for heart disease, it can increase your cholesterol levels, additionally, there is also change in diet people consume more fats and carbs, which affect the heart negatively, these combinations can cause an individual to have cardiovascular diseases.
Cold weather can cause shortness of breath because cold air can often be dry, it can irritate the airways and make breathing more difficult. Breathlessness, coughing, and wheezing may result from this.
Increased Risk of Blood Clots
Clotting is a natural process where the body prevents bleeding in the event of an injury. During the cold season, blood vessels constrict, the flow of blood is slowed down, and there are chances of the development of a clot in the body. It can cause clotting disorders for individuals who are already suffering from diseases like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism.
A blood clot can restrict your blood flow to the heart and brain, leading to conditions like a heart attack or stroke, an individual who has a history of blood clots or is at risk, should be extra careful when dealing with cold weather.
Hypothermia
When the body temperature drops lower than 35°C (95°F) is known as hypothermia. It occurs when your body loses its heat more than it can produce. It is a life-threatening situation.
As the body temperature becomes lower and lower, the heart’s ability to pump blood gets impaired; in extreme cases, it can be fatal.
Hypothermia is an extreme situation, but it’s important to protect yourself from its risk factors, like exposing yourself to cold weather for a long period, especially if you are old or at risk of heart disease.
How to Protect Your Heart in Cold Weather
Now that you know how does cold weather affects your heart, lets go further into how to protect it there are several tips and advices you can follow to keep yourself safe and warm this winter, Here are some ways:
- Dress in layers: Wearing warm, layered clothes is crucial while going outside in chilly weather. This will lessen the pressure on your heart and help maintain a steady body temperature. To stop heat loss from your hands, neck, and head, put on a scarf, hat, and gloves.
- Warm Up Before Exercise: Spend some time warming up properly before beginning an intensive workout. Before beginning more demanding exercises, start with mild cardio and stretching to get your blood flowing.
- Monitor Your Blood Pressure: It’s crucial to frequently check your blood pressure because cold weather can raise it, particularly if you have high blood pressure or other cardiovascular risk factors.
- Limit Physical Exertion: Avoid pushing yourself too much in cold weather, especially while shoveling snow or doing physically demanding tasks. Avoid overexerting yourself, take breaks, and drink plenty of water.
- Stay Active Indoors: Look for ways to be active indoors if you don’t enjoy working out outside. To keep your heart healthy, think about doing yoga, dancing, physical exercise, or anything that keeps you active.
- Eat Heart-Healthy Foods: Focus on eating heart-healthy, nutrient-dense meals during the winter, such as leafy greens, lean meats, and foods high in omega-3, like fish. Avoid overindulging in comfort meals that are high in fat or sugar as this can raise your risk of weight gain and cardiovascular disease.
In conclusion, how does cold weather affect your heart is a critical question to consider, especially as temperature drops. The cold weather causes your blood vessels to constrict, which raises blood pressure and forces the heart to work harder to maintain blood flow. This increased strain can trigger heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events, particularly for those with preexisting heart conditions. Understanding how cold weather affects your heart is key to recognizing the risks and taking the necessary steps to protect your heart health. By dressing warmly, staying active indoors, and monitoring your health, you can reduce the dangers associated with cold temperatures and keep your heart safe during the winter months.
