Cold wave can trigger a heart attack: 8 Ways to keep heart healthy
For your heart, winter might be awful news! Winter has its own allure, but it is also the season to be extra cautious when it comes to managing chronic health diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Our hearts must work exceedingly hard to pump oxygen into our bodies to keep us warm. The cold weather causes the arteries to contract, reducing blood and oxygen flow to the heart and increasing the risk of blood clots, which increases the chances of stroke or heart attack. Winter requires you to take care of your heart, which you can do by making healthy lifestyle modifications.
Heart attacks are common in winter: How can cold waves weaken your heart?
The blood vessels constrict as a result of the cold. This causes high blood pressure and is known as vasoconstriction or the narrowing of blood vessels by small muscles in their walls. The development of blood clots in the coronary arteries causes heart attacks. During the winter, levels of fibrinogen in our body rise. The platelet count also increases. As a result, blood clots may form, which may trigger a heart attack.
The heart has to work harder to maintain a healthy body temperature when it's cold outside. Winter winds can make things more challenging because they help the body lose heat more quickly. If the body temperature drops below 95 degrees, hypothermia could cause damage to the heart muscles.
Early warning signs of a heart attack:
The most common warning symptom of a heart attack is acute (severe) chest pain. Other signs of a heart attack include:
- Shortness of breath
- Vomiting or nausea
- Dizziness
- Cold sweat
- Back pain, numbness, or tingling in the jaw, neck, or shoulders
- Sudden fatigue
- Sensation of heartburn
How can you keep your heart healthy this winter?
Follow the below-given preventive measures to stay away from any heart diseases.
Keep blood pressure in check
A reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher is excessively high. The heart, arteries, and kidneys are less overloaded when blood pressure is within normal limits. One can use devices like an aneroid monitor, a digital monitor, a smartwatch with a blood pressure monitor, and wearable technology to check blood pressure.
Maintain blood sugar levels
The heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves might become affected over time due to high blood sugar levels. One must consult the doctor for a heart health checkup if they are 45 years of age or older. A person with diabetes and cardiovascular disease should use a glucometer to monitor their blood sugar levels. Sweets should be consumed in moderation and not in large quantities.
Check Pulse Rate
Due to the fact that it provides a real-time perspective of how the heart muscles are functioning, measuring heart rate is a simple method for evaluating overall health. A problem could be indicated by an abnormally high or low resting heart rate.
Avoid too much salt
It's critical to realize that salt intake needs to be restricted. We all have a tendency to eat foods heavy in salt throughout the year. We must limit our salt intake if we want to keep our blood pressure under control.
Say no to alcohol and tobacco
One must limit the amount of alcohol and tobacco intake. Alcohol and tobacco contribute to various health complications, including heart arrhythmia. It can majorly affect the heart more during winter.
Be active
Exercise helps maintain normal blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and body weight. For best results do weekly exercises, try exercising at a moderate intensity. One can also choose to go for a 30-minute stroll every day. This will lower the chances of having heart disease.
Intake of vitamin D supplements
Adults should receive at least 600 IU of vitamin D daily from meals or supplements during the winter. Vitamin D supplements taken by people who suffered from heart failure were linked to better cardiac function.
If you want to have a healthy heart throughout the winter and beyond, keep in mind these measures. In addition, if you are concerned about how to approach the coming season, you may always consult the doctor. Remember that maintaining a healthy mindset and a stress-free lifestyle is always advised for a healthy heart.
