The onset of winter brings with it its own set of challenges. Now recent research conducted at the Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research at the University of Oulu has found that cold-induced cardiorespiratory symptoms can predict higher morbidity and mortality. The researchers noted that heart and respiratory symptoms related to cold weather increased morbidity and mortality in healthy individuals.
The research highlighted that people were more often hospitalized due to myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, asthma, or obstructive pulmonary disease, who showed heart or respiratory symptoms or both at temperatures below + 10 ° C. Additionally, symptoms during winter also increased mortality due to cardiac or respiratory causes. The lower temperatures also seem to increase respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, mucus secretion and squeaky or impaired breathing.
In addition to bodily stress caused by the cold, the study also pointed out that symptoms related to cold weather may also indicate an undiagnosed disease. The research also showed that people who had heart and respiratory symptoms induced by cold weather at the same time also experienced health complications more often.
Docent Tiina Ikäheimo from the University of Oulu explained,
In a healthy individual, these symptoms indicate normal bodily reactions to cold weather and the load caused by them. For people with a heart or respiratory disease, cold weather may, on the other hand, exacerbate the progress of the disease and therefore increase morbidity and mortality.
Cold Weather and Cardiovascular Health
The probability of heart attacks, angina and other heart-related problems increases as temperatures decrease. The dip in the temperature can cause blood vessels and arteries to constrict, thus making the heart work harder to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. This constriction may cause chest pain or angina. Angina is a symptom of several heart-related issues, including coronary heart disease.
According to the American College of Cardiology, the risk of ischemic stroke also rises by 19 per cent during winter among those who suffer AFib (atrial fibrillation). Another risk to your heart during winter is hypothermia. Hypothermia occurs when your body loses heat rapidly when subjected to cold weather for an unusual length of time. If your body temperature drops below 95 degrees, hypothermia can damage the heart muscle. It also causes the heart, nervous system and other organs to function improperly, which may lead to heart failure or death. Symptoms for hypothermia include weak pulse, slurred speech, confusion, and shivering.
Cold Weather and Respiratory Health
The winter season is a difficult part of the year for patients with chronic respiratory diseases. The inhalation of cold air can have negative effects on the lungs for people with respiratory diseases and in particular on asthma patients. The cold temperatures can trigger symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.
In people with respiratory conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cold air can trigger more inflammatory cells to migrate to the airways, which also worsens symptoms.
The cold and drier air can impact healthy individuals as well, irritating the airways and lungs and making it harder to breathe.
Taking Care of Your Symptoms During Winter
There are ways and strategies you can employ to manage your cardiorespiratory symptoms better.
- Take medications as prescribed. If you have a respiratory condition, continue staying on your medication regime for better management of your condition.
- Don’t overexert yourself. Avoid exerting yourself too much, such as exercising outdoors, during the colder months, especially if you have risk factors for heart disease. Exertion increases the heart’s demand for oxygen. If there’s a blockage in a heart artery that reduces blood flow to the heart muscle, the supply of blood may not be sufficient to meet the demand.
- Stay warm and stay indoors. Keep your indoors warm and stay in as much as you can when it’s cold.
- Breathe through your nose and out from your mouth. Increased mouth inhalation can bring the irritating cold, dry air straight to your lungs, resulting in respiratory problems.
- Stay wary of the flu. A bout of seasonal flu can trigger a heart attack in people already at risk for heart disease. Wash your hands regularly with soap and try getting a flu shot. Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids or eating water-rich foods such as fruit or soup.
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