The Health Risk Of A Cold Temperature
QHHL 
Dec 20 2018
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0 QHHL
Cold temperature obviously presents more of a health risk than warm temperatures because of colds, flues and infections. However, there is also an unexpected link between heart attacks and temperatures that isn’t fully understood.
Winter is obviously a bigger health risk than summer for a number of reasons. When countries or regions experience a cold temperature, there is a higher risk of infections, colds and flues. This is particularly dangerous for the elderly and children, but can negatively affect anyone. However, there is also an increase in the heart attack rate during these cold periods. And this risk can’t be explained away by the cold or by winter behavioral changes.
Winter naturally poses more of a health risk than summer. In winter, there are more colds and flues around and people are more likely to experience complications. Certain infections such as chest or lung infections are also more common in winter. There is also a high risk of traumas that are linked to winter. Injuries from winter sports, falls, driving accidents, and exposure are all very common and can pose a varying risk to your health.
Research also shows that there’s a higher than normal risk of heart attack in colder temperatures. This may be partly due to the weakening effect of the cold on overall health. And certain cases may be caused by the shock of cold weather activities like snow shoveling. This is particularly true for people who are already vulnerable to heart problems. However, these factors can’t fully explain this link between the cold and heart attacks.
A recent study has suggested that the air temperature alone may be a health risk factor for heart attack. This study was carried out in Sweden over a period of 16 years and included 280, 000 participants. Between the 1st of January 1998 and the 31st of December 2013, all heart attacks treated at a coronary unit were included in the study. The weather patterns during which the attacks occurred were also studied. This data was collected from hundreds of weather stations in the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI). The relationship between the average temperatures and the average number of heart attacks was then evaluated.
The study found that the average number of heart attacks was higher on colder days than on warmer ones. Basically, there were 4 more heart attacks when the average temperature was less than 0 degrees Celsius. This is compared to the heart attack rate when it was above 10 degrees Celsius. The heart attack rate also increased with higher wind velocities, air humidity, and limited sunshine.
This finding was also consistent across groups. The researchers found the same results amongst the elderly, and people with hypertension or diabetes. Participants who’d had previous heart attacks or were taking medications also showed the same results. This means that the link between air temperature and heart attack risk was stable regardless of pre-existing conditions.
These findings suggest that air temperature is a heart attack trigger. And there may be a physiological reason for this. In the cold, superficial blood vessels constrict, increasing arterial blood pressure. The body also starts to shiver and the heart rate increases. This all raises the body’s metabolic rate and its internal temperature. In healthy people, these changes are easily tolerated. But when they occur in people who have plaque in their coronary arteries, the exertion could trigger a heart attack.
This doesn’t negate the other health risks associated with cold temperature such as colds, infections, and behavioral changes. However, it does suggest that people need to be aware that cold air temperatures can increase their health risk. So if you’re in a high risk category, you need to take the necessary precautions during the winter.
If you live in a cold climate, you need to be aware of how this increases your health risk. You probably can’t move to a warmer location if you’re at risk. However, you can monitor the situation and modify your behaviors during high risk periods. Some of the following strategies could help you do this:
If you are at higher risk of heart disease, try using HomeLab to keep track of your condition and any preventative measures you take. And if you see signs of a significant problem, you should check with your doctor as soon as possible.
Tags: Health risk, heart attack, cold temperature