Problem:
Winter is welcomed by many people but it can put your heart health at risk, especially if you have existing heart disease. If you are a heart patient then you should know this heart problems in winter season. As per evidence, the risk of heart disease increased almost by a third from baseline in the winter season. It is the result of various factors like low temperature, air pressure, and humidity. Persons which are at risk of aggravating heart disease are the elderly, smokers, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle, prior heart attack, and heart failure. However, these adverse events can be prevented by taking necessary precautions.
Cause:
During winter, our bodies undergo certain physiological adjustments to function optimally.
- Increase in Your heart rate
- Increase in Your blood pressure
- An increase in the propensity for blood clotting.
Our body does normal physiological adjustments in order to preserve core body temperature but this can present challenges to patients with heart disease. The cold weather condition can result in constriction of blood vessels, resulting in reduced blood flow and reduced supply of oxygen to the heart, which can eventually lead to a heart attack. Additionally, you are at an increased risk of catching lung infection in winter. Which itself can cause precipitation of heart failure.
Warning Signs of a Heart disease:
There might be several heart problems in winter may occur. A heart attack may present differently in males and females. In males, it mostly occurs with a pain in the center of the chest that radiates down to the left arm or heaviness in the chest., especially during stress or exertion. Females may experience symptoms differently like excessive fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, jaw pain, nausea, and abdominal pain. Heart failure patients may get decompensated due to the increased risk of catching the flu in winter.
10 Tips to keep your heart healthy during winter season:
Staying healthy during cold weather presents special challenges in patients with heart disease.
- Dressing for whether – Avoid outdoor visits in half dress as much as possible. Wear clothes of several layers covering head and hands as well.
- Avoid outdoor visits especially early in the morning and late in the night.
- Eating food rich in vegetables, fruits, fibre-rich whole grains, fatty fish, nuts, legumes and seeds will help to keep the heart-healthy. It should be included in daily diets.
- Getting enough sleep. NHLBI recommends at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep per day. It is crucial because it helps to regenerate body cells while stabilizing energy and appetite levels.
- Staying active but avoiding excessive exertion. Do make small changes in daily routine activities like use of stairs instead of lift, playing indoor sports such as table tennis or any other activity that can keep you physically active and whenever time allows going for jogging, brisk walking and yoga.
- Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. A moderate amount of alcohol can help in keeping the body warm inside but excessive alcohol should be avoided as it can also elevate blood pressure and heart rate.
- Personal Hygiene. Washing hands frequently and using a face mask will help to prevent respiratory infection and subsequent deterioration of heart disease.
- Vaccination. Winter raises the chances of getting lung infections especially swine flu, pneumococcal and COVID-19. So routine vaccination of the same might prevent hospitalization for heart ailment.
- One should be strictly compliant with treatments and have regular health check-ups with cardiologist.
- Immediate consultation of cardiologist if any change in health status like chest discomfort, sweating, pain in jaw and shoulder, shortness of breath which should not be ignored.
Contact Dr. Kartik Bhosale – Heart Specialist in PCMC to keep your heart healthy during the winter season.