Snowy Weather Raises Heart Health Alarm

Heart Health Concerns in Cold Weather As cold weather intensifies and snow blankets the country, protecting heart health is more important than ever. Activities such as walking against harsh winds or pushing a snow-covered car can trigger heart attacks. Particularly if a person has a blockage in their coronary arteries, insufficient blood reaches the heart muscle. When combined with strenuous exercise that overexerts the heart, a crisis becomes inevitable. Cardiac and Vascular Surgeon Prof. Dr. Barış Çaynak provided important information on how to protect heart health during winter. Cardiac and Vascular Surgeon Prof. Dr. Barış Çaynak noted that "movement options become limited in winter months." He continued, "Outdoor walking is one of our favorite, heart-friendly cardio exercises, but in winter it may not be possible to walk outdoors as much. Walking outdoors is more beneficial than walking on a treadmill indoors. As temperatures drop, people struggle to exercise outdoors. For this reason, we need to create movement opportunities in indoor spaces. Exercise at home and maintain an active lifestyle throughout the winter months," he warned.

Insufficient Blood Supply to the Heart Muscle

"More strenuous exercise is performed during winter months. This poses a risk to the heart. Activities such as walking against harsh winds or pushing a snow-covered car can trigger heart attacks. Particularly if a person has a blockage in their coronary arteries, insufficient blood reaches the heart muscle. When combined with strenuous exercise that overexerts the heart, a crisis becomes inevitable. Especially those with chest pain, a family history of genetic heart disease, weight problems, high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, and smokers should avoid strenuous exercise and sudden movements in cold winter weather."

Sudden Exposure to Cold Causes Spasm

Cardiac and Vascular Surgeon Prof. Dr. Barış Çaynak, noting that "contact with cold weather can trigger heart attacks," stated, "Moving suddenly from a warm environment to cold air can cause coronary spasms. When transitioning from a warm space to a cold one, the chest area must be kept warm before suddenly exposing it to the cold. When the body moves from an extremely warm environment to a cold one, it undergoes a significant temperature change. We do not recommend that heart patients use saunas. Even if they do use a sauna, we do not want them to suddenly enter a cold pool afterward. When the body remains in heat for an extended period, all blood vessels, including the coronary arteries, expand. When a person suddenly moves from heat to cold, an acute spasm causes a significant reduction in blood flow to the heart. For this reason, it is necessary to avoid sharp temperature differences in winter. Wearing multiple layers of clothing rather than a single thick sweater such as a cardigan will be more beneficial in protecting the body," he concluded.