When temperatures start to drop, most hypertensive patients report thickening and clotting of the blood, and increased blood pressure, all of which increase the risk of heart attack. has been shown to be twice as high as the summer risk.
How does blood clot? How does blood pressure affect the heart?
Blood pressure is inversely proportional to ambient temperature. Blood pressure rises during winter, making the heart work harder to pump the same amount of blood. To maintain body temperature, our blood vessels constrict. “This reduces blood flow to the skin and limbs furthest away from the heart, and helps keep the body warm by drawing more blood to core organs to keep them from feeling cold.” , the heart has to use more force to push blood through the small passages, raising blood pressure.When this happens, the blood is more likely to clot.A clot that blocks the flow of oxygen and blood to the brain and heart is a blood clot. , can cause stroke.It’s also a time when it’s easy to overlook hydration.In cold weather, it’s easy to get dehydrated without feeling thirsty.This makes your blood sticky and clots. “There’s a higher risk that you’ll have a heart attack,” said Dr. Manish Bansal, director of clinical and preventive cardiology at the Heart Institute, Medanta Hospital, Gurugram. Platelets normally clump together to form clots that help seal bleeding wounds, but cold weather can increase the risk of dangerous clots forming in the body.” said Dr Kamal Gupta, Chief Cardiology Consultant, Fortis Escort Hospital, Faridabad.
Dr. Sanjeev Jadhav, Chief Cardiac Surgeon and Director of the Department of Heart and Lung Transplants at Apollo Hospital in Mumbai, has observed that most cardiologists have observed an increase in blood viscosity (blood thickness) as winter approaches. “That’s why we should be careful about blocking arteries due to the sudden formation of blood clots.” Numerous studies have proven this. His 2016 study, published in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, examined his nearly 172,000 ischemic stroke hospitalizations in the United States, and found that when the average temperature was low and the temperature varied widely, stroke was more frequent. was found to occur in A German study published the same year in the European Journal of Epidemiology concluded that for every 2.9 degrees Celsius drop in temperature over a 24-hour period, stroke increased by 11%, with a higher rate among people already at risk. attached. In 2019, in São Paulo, Brazil, he studied nearly 56,000 stroke deaths over a ten-year period and found that cooler temperatures will increase the number of stroke deaths, especially among people over the age of 65. It turns out that there is a possibility.
Why should I care about plaque rupture?
“People may be worried about blood clots, but the greater risk of plaque rupture is greater.In addition, blood pressure tends to rise. The vascular smooth muscle cells in the walls tend to contract), which makes them tense.For the same reason, plaque becomes unstable and dislodges, increasing the risk of heart attack,” says Dr. Bansal. .
Why are attacks more common on winter mornings?
Studies show that heart attacks and heart disease-related complications occur more frequently during the winter morning hours. Studies suggest that this is usually due to an early morning rise in blood pressure. Additionally, there is a sympathetic hormonal imbalance during the morning hours, which increases risk. Increased levels of clotting factors, including fibrinogen, are due to hormonal fluctuations. “Vessels constrict in the winter because of increased sympathetic tone. ,” adds Dr. Bansal.
Dr. Manoj Durairaj, a noted heart transplant surgeon, says that uncontrolled diabetes is one of the risk factors for heart attacks. “Further studies in Indians are needed to understand why silent attacks occur in the early morning, but it is also due to hypertension and arteriosclerosis.”
Who is at risk?
Heart attacks are more common among people with pre-existing risk factors, such as smokers, obese people, those with high blood pressure, those who consume excessive alcohol, or those already receiving treatment for heart disease. It is imperative to note that there is a high probability.
• Maintain blood pressure with proper medication and regular follow-up
• Take all medications and continue as advised
• Avoid exposure to extreme cold and dress appropriately
• Avoid excessive salt intake
• Avoid unhealthy eating habits and overeating that can boost cholesterol levels
• Maintain a healthy exercise schedule, but don’t overdo it. In fact, assess your heart and body condition before attempting anything extreme. Unaccustomed exercise can strain your heart and cause a heart attack.
