Cold weather can pack a serious punch for vulnerable
populations. Cardiologists in the Triangle are warning North Carolinians of the
increased risk of heart attacks during cooler months.
Cardiologist Nishant Shah explained winter can be especially
dangerous for those with underlying conditions.
“Cold weather in general restricts our blood vessels,” said
Shah. “Someone at risk of heart disease or who has already blockages built up
in some of their heart blood vessels, with those blood vessels getting smaller,
it can certainly add more stress and strain on the heart, predisposing them to
heart attacks.”
The Duke Health doctor shared respiratory viruses which peak
during winter months also aid to the usual rise in heart attacks.
Doctors are currently cautioning North Carolinians to stay
home when sick due to the spread
of several respiratory viruses. An increase in hospitalizations has also
prompted Duke Health and UNC Health systems
to implement visitor restrictions.
“People at risk of heart disease, or have had prior heart
attacks, run the risk of having a lot of inflammation in their blood vessels
due to respiratory illnesses which can also increase risk of heart attack,” shared
Shah.
Shah cautioned too much physical activity, such as shoveling
snow, can cause an at-risk individual to overdo it.
“Let’s say you have someone who is used to mostly being
sedentary or someone who doesn’t do really a lot of intense work but has a lot
of medical conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, and
then they put themselves in the position where they’re doing more work than
their body is used to, that extra strain on their body can really be a lot,” the
doctor said.
A busy holiday season can also exaggerate stress along with
feelings of isolation and depression.
“Stress can increase the amount of adrenaline,” explained
Shah. “That really puts a lot of demand on your heart. Excess stress can lead
to abnormal heart rhythms and it can lead to heart attacks as well as other
conditions that just will limit your heart from functioning at its best.”
While those with prior heart attacks are more at risk, cardiac
arrest is happening more often in younger patients with seemingly no
obvious risk factors.
Shah says warning signs should be taken seriously and not
dismissed, especially if coming from a woman.
“A common complaint I hear is, ‘I thought it was just acid
reflux’,” said Shah. “Women historically can present a-typically. If you look
at the science, women are often times missed when they’re having a heart
attack.”
Common symptoms of heart attack can include:
·
chest pain
·
pain that radiates down the arm or jaw
·
shortness of breath
·
nausea
·
vomiting
Shah said women may not always have the classic symptoms and
instead symptoms like back pain, abdominal discomfort or hiccups can be
indicators of something more serious.
If you or a loved one is exhibiting even mild symptoms of a potential
heart attack, the doctor encourages you to call 911 and take the idiom “Better
safe than sorry”, seriously.
Shah highly encourages more people to become CPR-certified.
The
American Heart Association reports immediate CPR can triple someone’s
chance of survival, especially for women.
The organization also reports men are 1.23X more likely to receive
CPR from a bystander and their survival rate is 23% higher compared to women.
Shah advised routine doctors visits, maintaining a healthy
diet, exercising appropriately, not smoking, and getting 7-9 hours of sleep are
crucial in reducing your risk of having a heart attack.
