But did you know that cold weather can affect your heart? This means that people with cardiovascular disease should be especially mindful of heart health during the winter. Lower temperatures can cause blood vessels to narrow.
This means that your heart must work harder to move blood throughout the body. Cold weather can also affect your heart by increasing your blood pressure and heart rate. Those with coronary heart disease may suffer chest pain or discomfort — also known as angina pectoris — in cold weather.
Angina symptoms include chest pain and discomfort, possibly described as pressure, squeezing, burning or fullness. These symptoms need to be evaluated immediately by a doctor who can determine whether you have stable angina, or unstable angina, which can be a precursor to a heart attack. Stable angina is the most common form of angina.
It usually happens when you exert yourself and goes away with rest. For example, pain that comes on when you're walking uphill or in the cold weather may be angina. The severity, duration and type of angina can vary. New or different symptoms may signal a more dangerous form of angina unstable angina or a heart attack.
There's another type of angina, called variant angina or Prinzmetal's angina. This type of angina is rarer. It's caused by a spasm in your heart's arteries that temporarily reduces blood flow.
Symptoms of angina in women can be different from angina symptoms that occur in men. These differences may lead to delays in seeking treatment. For example, chest pain is a common symptom in women with angina, but it may not be the only symptom or the most prevalent symptom for women.
Women may also have symptoms such as:. If your chest pain lasts longer than a few minutes and doesn't go away when you rest or take your angina medications, it may be a sign you're having a heart attack. Call or emergency medical help. Arrange for transportation. Only drive yourself to the hospital as a last resort.
If chest discomfort is a new symptom for you, it's important to see your doctor to find out what's causing your chest pain and to get proper treatment.
If you've been diagnosed with stable angina and it gets worse or changes, seek medical attention immediately. Angina is caused by reduced blood flow to your heart muscle.
Your blood carries oxygen, which your heart muscle needs to survive. When your heart muscle isn't getting enough oxygen, it causes a condition called ischemia. The most common cause of reduced blood flow to your heart muscle is coronary artery disease CAD.
Children and the elderly are at special risk because they may have limited ability to communicate or impaired mobility. Elderly people may also have lower subcutaneous fat and a diminished ability to sense temperature so they can suffer hypothermia without knowing they're in danger. People with coronary heart disease often suffer angina pectoris chest pain or discomfort when they're in cold weather.
Besides cold temperatures, high winds, snow and rain also can steal body heat. Wind is especially dangerous, because it removes the layer of heated air from around your body. At 30 degrees Fahrenheit in a mile per hour wind, the cooling effect is equal to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Similarly, dampness causes the body to lose heat faster than it would at the same temperature in drier conditions. To keep warm, wear layers of clothing. This traps air between layers, forming a protective insulation.
Also, wear a hat or head scarf. Heat can be lost through your head. And ears are especially prone to frostbite. Keep your hands and feet warm, too, as they tend to lose heat rapidly. Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff. Consumer Health Care.
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