There is more to the landscape than meets the eye when winter’s icy tones cover it. You might be surprised by how our bodies react to the freezing temperatures, especially our cardiovascular system. While curling up with a hot cup of cocoa and a warm blanket seems like the ideal way to deal with chilly weather, it’s important to know how low temperatures affect heart function in order to maintain good health throughout the winter.
1. Constriction of Blood Vessels
The natural reaction of your body is to store heat when the temperature drops. To lessen heat loss, this involves tightening blood vessels close to the skin’s surface. On the other hand, this restriction may raise blood pressure and burden the heart further. This can be especially concerning for people who already have cardiovascular disorders, such as hypertension.
2. Increased Risk of Heart Attacks
Research has indicated a connection between colder temperatures and a higher chance of experiencing a heart attack. There are several different causes for this. Blood can thicken in cold weather, increasing the risk of clotting. Furthermore, cardiac events may be brought on by the constricted blood vessels’ strain on the heart, particularly in individuals who are already at risk for heart issues.
3. Exacerbation of Existing Conditions
The cold can make symptoms worse for people who have heart failure or coronary artery disease. Breathing via narrowed arteries requires more effort from the heart, which can cause exhaustion, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Furthermore, a weakened cardiovascular system may be further taxed by the body’s reaction to the cold, such as shivering.
4. Impact on Physical Activity
Throughout the winter, people tend to lead more sedentary lifestyles since cold weather frequently discourages outside physical exercise. Decreased physical activity has been linked to elevated blood pressure, weight gain, and deteriorating cardiovascular health. To continue working out safely in the winter, you must locate indoor activities or wrap up warmly.
5. Respiratory Issues
The health of the heart may be indirectly impacted by cold air since it can aggravate respiratory disorders like asthma and irritate the airways. The combined load on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems throughout the winter months can be especially difficult to manage for people who have both heart and respiratory disorders.