Robert Peston issues warning over ‘cold winter’
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Winter months have been associated with a greater risk of heart attacks for a variety of reasons.
The holidays can lead to indulgence that can worsen heart health and provoke an attack.
Cold weather causes constriction of blood vessels, raising blood pressure.
A study in Sweden has found that weather conditions on a winter day can indicate the number of heart attacks that will occur.
A study of 274,000 people in Sweden who suffered heart attacks between 1998 and 2013 found several aspects of winter weather that worsened the risk for a heart attack.
Cold weather, lower air pressure, high winds and less sunshine were all identified as correlative factors.
When blood vessels near the surface constrict, this not only raises blood pressure but can also cause fatty plaques to rupture inside the arteries and block blood supply to the heart or brain.
READ MORE: Visceral fat: The red drink that turbocharges metabolism and burns the ‘dangerous’ fat
“This is one of several studies that points to colder temperatures and less sunshine in the winter months leading to more people having heart attacks,” explained Ashleigh Li, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation.
“You obviously can’t choose when you have a heart attack, but the seasons shouldn’t have such an impact on our heart health.
“This doesn’t mean you should stay inside until next spring.
“We need more research to help us find out why winter months make people more likely to have a heart attack, as well as continuing to do all we can to stop people having heart attacks in the first place.”
DON’T MISS:
Visceral fat: The warm drink that decreases the belly fat ‘significantly over time'[TIPS]
‘Nearly as bad as smoking’: The popular food that quadruples the risk of dying from cancer[STUDY]
Cancer: The warning sign when you wake up in the morning – ‘the most troubling symptom’ [TIPS]
Cold winter weather is also linked to an increase in multiple risk factors for heart attacks.
Lung infections such as the flu are more common at these times and are linked to higher risk of heart attacks.
Flu vaccines are offered free on the NHS to people over 50 or with pre-existing conditions.
Dressing warming and taking care when outside not to slip on cold ground are also important.
Previous studies have looked at the impact of cold on other hazards besides heart disease.
One study in Environmental Pollution identified that each one degree change in temperature below a certain threshold produced a 1.58 percent increase in all cause mortality.
The strongest increases in risk were for cardiovascular diseases and pneumonia.
Your risk of suffering a heart attack will vary depending on a large number of environmental and lifestyle factors.
Family history plays a role, alongside metabolic conditions such as diabetes and high cholesterol.
You risk increases with age, but is also affected by behaviours such as diet, alcohol and smoking.
If you are concerned that you are at risk of a heart attack, your doctor can provide advice on what you can do to reduce that risk.
Source: Read Full Article
