Guwahati: Heart disease sufferers are becoming more and more numerous, especially in the winter. It is thought that the cold has a variety of effects on the heart. It’s crucial to comprehend the methods in which we can safeguard our hearts in cold weather in light of this.
Dr Manoj Kumar, a senior cardiologist with Max Hospital, New Delhi, while speaking to ANI said, “Heart attacks increase in winter, elderly people are more prone to heart attacks but nowadays it can be seen in youth too.”
“To avoid this, outdoor morning walks in winter should be avoided before sunrise,” he added.
Dr. Kumar added that layers of clothing should be worn.
“The surface area of the head is very big. Hence, chance of heat loss from head is high. It is very important to properly cover your head during the winter before heading out.”
“The cold causes blood vessels to contract. This is known as ‘vasoconstriction’ – the narrowing (constriction) of blood vessels by small muscles in their walls, and can lead to high blood pressure,” he pointed out.
“Heart attack occurs due to blood clot formation in Coronary arteries. It is seen that fibrinogen levels in our body increase by up to 23 percent during winters. Apart from that, platelet count increases too. And this can cause a blood clot to form and lead to heart attack,” said Dr Kumar.
He also suggested that people take vitamin D pills in order to prevent cardiovascular disorders throughout the winter.
“Vitamin D deficiency is one of factors that can cause heart attack. People should take supplements during the winter season,” he suggested.