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Ways to Maintain Heart Health in Cold Weather

The weather is colder now, and winter has begun to show itself. This poses many risks to our health. Perhaps the most dangerous of these is the effect of cold on the heart. Scientists point out that even a three-degree change can make a huge difference. Heart disease, which kills millions of people every year, is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Especially in winter...

A 2017 study in Sweden, published in JAMA Cardiology, looked at data from more than 274,000 heart patients. The study, which investigated the link between different weather conditions and heart attacks, found that heart attacks were more common on cold days. Moreover, temperatures below zero were found to increase a person's risk of having a serious heart attack by about 10 percent. The results also indicated a noticeable drop in heart attack rates when temperatures rose from 0 to 3 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to various studies, heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, cardiovascular problems, rhythm disorders, and other problems are now being observed due to the unexpected decrease in air temperature in the winter months. Yeditepe University Hospitals Cardiology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aytek Şimşek explained the reason for this and how we should protect heart health in cold weather.

What Happens to Our Bodies When We Go Out in Cold Weather?

Stating that there are many factors underlying the negative effects of cold air on cardiovascular health, Cardiology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aytek Şimşek: “The average human body cannot fully adapt to cold weather. Hence, the body, which encounters cold air, accelerates muscle metabolism as a defense. In addition, the sympathetic nervous system, which is activated in the face of physical and mental dangers, is stimulated and the loss of temperature is tried to be minimized by reducing the diameter of the superficial vessels and the amount of blood flowing there. The activation of the sympathetic nervous system will solve the problem in the short term, but in the medium and long term, it will have negative effects on cardiovascular health.

Another factor is the rise and fluctuations in blood pressure in cold weather. Due to this fluctuation, the workload of the heart increases, there are changes in organ blood supply, and the development of a heart attack due to rising blood pressure can be triggered.”

Does Extremely Hot Weather, Such as Cold Weather, Also Affect Cardiovascular Conditions?

Not only the extreme cold but also the extreme heat affects the heart negatively. The American Heart Association (AHA) has warned that temperatures above 26 degrees could strain the heart and put vulnerable people at risk.

Emphasizing that hot weather, just like cold weather, adversely affects cardiovascular diseases, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şimşek: “Unlike cold weather, the effect of hot air is immediate and the negative effect of hot air decreases as the body adapts in the process. While the effects of cold weather on cardiovascular health emerge within days-weeks, the effects of hot weather can be seen within hours.”

Şimşek also underlined the following points:

The negative effect of hot weather on cardiovascular diseases is mostly due to fluid loss. Since infants, young children, and older people are especially susceptible to fluid loss, a decrease in blood pressure in a short time with exposure to hot air, a decrease in organ blood supply due to this, and a predisposition to clotting in older age may occur.

In follow-up studies dating back many years, it was revealed that cold weather significantly increased death due to cardiovascular diseases compared to hot weather. Therefore, it can be said that cold air is more dangerous for heart disease.

How Do We Know If We Are Having a Heart Attack?

It is important to recognize the signs of a heart attack. Because the sooner a person who has a heart attack gets help, the more likely they are to recover. The severity of a heart attack can vary between individuals; some experience severe pain, while others experience only mild discomfort.

Some risk factors may have greater effects on the effects of cold air on the heart than others. For example, a 2016 study found that smoking and alcohol consumption were the risk factors most likely to trigger a heart attack at low temperatures. This is because alcohol and substances in cigarettes increase blood pressure by directly affecting the narrowing of blood vessels in the body.

How ‘cold’ is Accepted as “Cold as Ice”?

We asked, ‘In terms of cardiovascular risk, what degree of weather can we define as extremely cold and extremely hot?' to Assoc. Prof. Dr. He replied: 'The concept of extreme cold and hot weather varies according to the climate region and geographical location where a place is located, so temperature ranges are defined for the regions.

Normal values are 20-25 degrees Celsius for the west of Turkey and 15-20 degrees Celsius for the east. Values of 80 percent or less of these temperatures are considered extremely cold, and values of 20-80 percent or less are considered average cold. Values 80 percent and above are defined as extremely hot and values 20 to 80 percent and above are defined as average hot.”

Who is Most at Risk From Cold Weather?

The most at risk are people with hypertension, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, advanced age, and insufficient fluid intake. In addition, people with low socioeconomic status, limited access to health services, and insufficient food are also at risk.

What Other Health Problems Occur in the Cold?

Cold weather is when people spend more time indoors. Therefore, viral, or bacterial epidemics are more common in this period. Moreover, the increase in the consumption of fossil fuels for heating in cold weather may cause deterioration of air quality and an increase in harmful particle release, thus triggering the worsening of lung diseases. Exposure to cold air can cause spasms in the airways and cause attacks in reactive airway diseases. Exercising in cold weather can also put extra strain on the heart.