By Dr Harinder Singh Bedi
Winter carries ‘warm’ memories of sarson ka saag and makki ki roti with a dollop of butter, gajak, rewari and groundnuts, sitting around the fire, cuddled in a warm blanket. However, unfortunately, winter is also associated with a higher risk of a heart attack.
There is a combination of factors that increase heart attack risk in winter:
– Spasm of arteries: In cold weather, the body’s automatic response is to narrow the blood vessels leading to blockage of diseased arteries triggering a heart attack.
– Increased blood pressure: This has the effect of a double whammy – not only does the heart have to work harder but its blood supply is reduced.
– Thicker blood: In cold weather, blood platelets appear to be more active and stickier and more likely to clot.
– Holiday feasting: One tends to eat and drink more, and gain more weight during the winter months.
- Delay in seeking treatment: I vividly remember a polite elderly patient in Sydney who apologised profusely for having ‘disturbed’ me in the holiday season with a heart attack that he had been nursing for the last 2 days!
So, does this mean you have to fear the winter and huddle indoors all the time?
Not at all!
The take home message is not to be afraid of the winter but to know that winter is a period of increased risk and to look for ways to minimise that risk. Try to keep your heart healthy by keeping the following pointers in mind:
- Stick to your normal exercise plan.
- Avoid very early morning walks – wait for sunrise.
- Wear proper warm attire – inner thermal, jacket, cap with earmuffs and gloves.
. If it is really really cold and you just do not feel like going out – Hop on the treadmill, find inner peace on the yoga mat or hit the dance floor with some friends.
- Eat a prudent diet low in saturated fats and calories. Nuts and dry fruits can be taken in moderation if one is not overweight. Avoid fatty fried and non- vegetarian food.
- Avoid tobacco, or alcohol just to ‘warm you up’ – both put a stress on the heart.
- Avoid gambling on New Year – it can be stressful – both financially and on the heart!
- Don’t ignore symptoms if you are feeling unwell–doctors on duty will not mind – they’re away from home anyway!
- Sit in the sun.
If you follow these simple tips – you can enjoy winter without hurting your heart. And when spring arrives, you’ll be fit as a fiddle.
(The writer is Director, Cardio-Vascular Endovascular & Thoracic Sciences, at the Park Grecian Hospital, Mohali, Punjab, and was earlier at the St Vincent’s Hospital in Australia and the Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi. He has lived in Dehradun and studied at St Joseph’s Academy, Rajpur Road.)
