Winter and heart health: Risks and precautions to know

When the winter months come around, the human body goes through numerous physiological and biological changes in the process of acclimating to the cold. In some ways, this acclimatization can make heart diseases worse. Here we learn how winter impacts heart health, identify people who are more likely to fall victim to this seasonal attack, and how they may prevent winter heart attacks.
Effects of cold weather on heart health
The cold weather causes your blood vessels and coronary arteries to contract, thereby increasing the blood pressure, reducing the blood flow, and reducing the supply of oxygen to the heart. This can eventually lead to a heart attack. In addition, the heart has to work hard in winter to maintain a normal body temperature, which becomes stressful for those with prior heart conditions.
Additional winter-related risks to heart health
1. Hypothermia: Winter can lead to hypothermia, a condition where the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. This can cause damage to heart muscles and increase the risk of heart failure.
2. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): The emotional stress and lack of sunlight during winter can lead to SAD, a type of depression. This can increase the levels of stress hormones in the body, further increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Individuals at high risk of winter heart attacks
Certain individuals are more susceptible to heart attacks during winter due to their pre-existing medical conditions or lifestyle habits. These include:
1. Those with a history of heart diseases
2. Those who have had a heart attack in the past
3. Those with high blood pressure and high cholesterol
4. Smokers and heavy drinkers
5. Those who have a sedentary lifestyle
Precautions to avoid winter heart attacks
Although winter increases the risk of heart attacks, there are precautions you can take to minimize this risk:
1. Avoid Excessive Alcohol Consumption or Smoking: Excessive alcohol consumption can warm up your body more than required, which can be dangerous when you’re out in the cold. Smoking should be completely avoided, as it is one of the key contributors to heart diseases or heart failures.
2. Dress Warm If You Have Heart Conditions: Low temperatures cause your blood vessels to constrict. Dress warm before going out, and if your body begins overheating, remove one layer so that your body maintains a normal temperature. This will help maintain blood vessels from dilating or causing your blood pressure to significantly drop.
3. Don’t Skip Exercise, Bring it Indoors: A sedentary lifestyle is one of the prime contributors towards lifestyle diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Don’t skip exercise; rather bring it indoors by doing some yoga, Pilates, or simple routines in your living room.
4. Manage Your Stress: Take some time off from work, join a hobby group, engage in gardening or painting, learn yoga at home, or meditate. Ensure to take breaks from work regularly, relax, and reduce stress levels.
5. Get Regular Health Checkups: Everyone should go for regular health checkups, even if they do not have any medical history. This includes annual tests for blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels. Regular health checkups can help identify potential heart problems early on, allowing for timely treatment and prevention.
Healthy lifestyle in winter
In addition to these precautionary measures, one should also maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet during winter. The following are some of the valuable tips:
1. Balanced Diet: Focus on having a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Avoid excessive sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.
2. Hydration: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to maintain hydration and healthy blood flow.
3. Getting Sufficient Rest: Aim at getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night and help to control the activity of stress hormones, plus maintain a healthy heart.
4. Manage Stress: Try on stress-reducing activities like meditation, yoga, or even deep breathing exercises to manage it and reduce stress and anxiety.
Winter can increase the risk of heart attacks, especially for those who have pre-existing heart conditions or lifestyle habits. However, by taking the necessary precautions, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet, and going for regular health checkups, you can minimize this risk. Remember to stay warm, exercise indoors, manage stress, and avoid excessive alcohol consumption and smoking to keep your heart healthy and strong throughout the winter months.
Authored by: Dr. Lakshmi Kanth P, MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DM (Cardiology), Consultant & Interventional Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore