Why Heart Attacks are More Common in Winters and Ways to Reduce Your Risk

Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Why Heart Attacks are More Common in Winters and Ways to Reduce Your Risk

In India, the winter season is a delightful time in most places, whether you get to enjoy just pleasantly cold weather or snow! It is also a time for many year-end festivities and merrymaking. However, this beautiful season has a downside when it comes to our overall health. Besides triggering different respiratory conditions, winters also increase the risk of suffering from a heart attack. Since heart attacks are one of the leading causes of mortality among the young and elderly, it is important to take necessary precautions, particularly during the winter season, to reduce the risk. Besides this, you must also keep a critical illness insurance policy handy for those uncertain times. Such a health plan can cover a range of critical illnesses and prevent financial setbacks.

Why are heart attacks common in winters?

Here are some reasons why heart attacks are more common during the winter months:

Increased blood pressure:

When the temperature dips outside, it affects our body as well and causes vasoconstriction or tightening of the arteries. This reduces the amount of blood that flows to the heart, thereby increasing blood pressure and the risk of a heart attack.

Hypothermia:

During extreme cold conditions, it can be difficult to maintain the required body heat. This can lead to hypothermia or abnormally low body temperature and cause severe damage to the heart and blood vessels.

Respiratory conditions:

Winter is the time when we tend to suffer from different respiratory illnesses, such as common cold, flu, pneumonia and asthma. These illnesses put extra stress on the heart muscles and make things worse, especially for the elderly.

For instance, if someone has pneumonia, the lungs get affected and oxygen levels decrease in the body. Hence, the heart needs to work harder to supply oxygen-rich blood to the organs. This excessive pressure on the heart can result in a heart attack.

How does the cold climate affect heart patients?

The cold environment forces the body to make certain adjustments to maintain a suitable body temperature. Hence, the heart needs to work harder to keep the body warm. This puts extra pressure on the heart muscles and increases blood pressure. Therefore, if someone is already suffering from high blood pressure or any other heart condition, the cold weather increases their chances of blood clotting, chest pain, discomfort and a heart attack.

If you are a heart patient, you must take a critical illness insurance cover for yourself. In case you suffer a heart attack, the policy payout will protect you financially during and after the treatment.

Other factors that increase the risk of a heart attack

The following factors can also increase the risk of a heart attack during winters:

Lack of physical activity:

Cold weather can discourage people from stepping out more often. You might stop going to the gym or put off exercising completely. Lack of physical activity can cause fatty materials to build up in the arteries, thereby clogging them and leading to a heart attack.

Fatty foods:

Winter is also the time when we tend to consume more high cholesterol foods. These foods can impact the arteries and increase the risk of a heart attack.

Pollution:

Air pollution also increases during the winter season due to the withdrawal of the monsoon and a change in wind direction. Winters also reduce wind speed, thereby preventing effective dispersion of the pollutants. High pollution levels can trigger inflammation and heart conditions.

Tips to reduce your risk and stay safe

Here are some simple and effective tips to reduce the risk of a heart attack:

Wear warm clothes:

Dress up for the weather with proper woollen clothes, gloves and socks.

Avoid long hours outside:

Do not spend too much time outside in the cold, especially during the morning and evening hours when temperatures are very low.

Manage stress:

Since stress also increases the chances of a heart attack, look for ways to calm your mind. Take breaks from work and spend more time with family and friends. You can also try yoga, meditation, gardening, and other activities that make you happy.

Stay active:

Although you may feel lazy when the temperatures dip outside, it is important to stay active. You can do chores around the house, follow a home workout routine, and try yoga and meditation to regulate body temperature and improve fitness levels.

Check your diet:

Be mindful of what you eat and avoid too many fried foods and sweets. Include lots of fresh fruits, green vegetables, soups and other healthy foods in your diet. These foods will not only boost your immunity, but also keep your cholesterol levels in check, thereby lowering the risk of heart conditions.

Go for preventive screenings

If you are suffering from heart conditions or have a history of heart attacks, make sure you go for preventive screenings. This is also important for those with a family history of heart conditions.

Cardiovascular screening tests are done to monitor the blood pressure, blood glucose levels, blood cholesterol levels (fasting lipoprotein profile), body weight and more. These tests help assess the risks of developing fatty deposits in the arteries that often lead to a heart attack.

Conclusion

While the risk of heart conditions increases in winter, making certain changes to your lifestyle, limiting alcohol consumption and eating a balanced diet can keep you safe and healthy. However, in case you notice any warning signs and symptoms, visit a healthcare professional without delay. Also, take a critical illness insurance policy and stay covered. This health plan covers many life-threatening conditions and helps you avail the finest treatment without bearing any financial burden.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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