Risk of heart attacks rises in winter: Expert

Kolkata, January 13, 2017: (UNI) Winter is generally the time when people party hard and fill their tummies with steak, kebabs, sweets and wine.

But ponder before you dig into that succulent piece of meat or down the chute of wine.

In a tropical country like India, winter is a much awaited season.
However, a lesser known fact about the onset of winter is the increase in risk of cardio-vascular diseases.

Besides a sudden drop in temperature during winter, high winds and rain often reduce body temperature, due to which there is a sudden rise in the blood pressure leading to heart attack.

‘Sudden fall in body temperature in winter may increase blood viscosity which increases the risk of clot formation,’ Dr Prithwiraj Bhattacharya informed UNI today.

The Associate Consultant Cardiologist at Fortis Hospital, Anandapur, said individuals above the age of 40 are at a higher risk of heart attacks.
According to him, there are a number of factors which may trigger a heart attack during winters, starting from hypertension to obesity.

Increasing cholesterol levels, diabetes or excessive smoking may put you on the radar, he pointed out.

Scarce sunlight during winter may decrease levels of Vitamin D in the body.
There are a number of physiological mechanisms triggered by vitamin D production through sunlight exposure that fight heart disease.

An imbalance in any of these puts the heart in danger.

‘There is a rise in blood pressure during early morning which further leads to heart attack.

Blood viscosity increases in winter that leads to heart attack for a person having higher blood pressure,’ he explained.

Hence persons having heart trouble or suffering from high blood pressure should avoid exertion in the early mornings, he said.

Studies have been carried out in the western countries which established these facts, though in India such studies are yet to be carried out, he pointed out.

‘The mild winter in most of India eggs people to enjoy good food and wine.
Often there is binge drinking which must be strictly avoided,’ the cardiologist cautioned.

‘A heart attack does not always come with warning signs.

Though there are not any remedies as such, it is highly important to get a regular health check up during winters.

Blood glucose and cholesterol levels should be taken care of.
Also avoid binge drinking and junk food consumption as much as you can,’ he said. –United News of India