• Healthy State
  • Careers
  • Education
  • Research
  • Giving
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search
Close Search
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find a Doctor
  • Find a Location
  • Find a Specialty
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Pay a Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
Thinkstockphotos 498056894 Heart Of Mittens

Avoiding a Cold Weather Heart Attack

Jan 21, 2022 |
By Michael Castine, MD
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

When winter arrives and the temperature drops, our minds gravitate towards taking care of things like pipes, plants and pets. What many people fail to realize is that colder weather also brings about an increased risk of heart issues, so this is also a time to protect yourself and your loved ones!

Studies have shown that the number of heart attacks increases during the colder months of the year. A nationwide study published in 2018 in the Journal of the American Medical Association found a higher incidence of myocardial infarction, or heart attacks, in Sweden on days with low air temperature, low air pressure, high winds, and shorter sunshine duration.

Cold weather can cause your arteries to constrict. During normal temperatures, your body will perform vasodilation when you are physically active — your arteries will open or widen to provide more blood throughout your body. But during colder temperatures, your blood flow can be reduced as your arteries and blood vessels shrink. This can mean your heart has to work harder due to a rise in blood pressure and pulse. Additionally, when it’s cold outside, platelets are more prone to abnormally aggregate which can cause clots. Throw in elevated heart rates due to activity and this can spell trouble for some people.

How Healthy Is Your Heart? Learn more at Ochsner.org/HeartMonth

Doctors have also drawn a connection between cold weather and heart attacks which are triggered by strenuous activities like skiing or shoveling snow. This relationship is particularly dangerous for people who suffer from coronary or cardiovascular disease, but can even affect people who have not previously been treated for heart issues.

Strenuous activity can be anything from that New Year’s resolution workout routine to the annual family ski trip to hunting or even exerting yourself at a chilly Mardi Gras parade. Doctors recommend that some patients with a significant cardiac history avoid outdoors cold-weather activity all together. Below are some ways to protect yourself in the colder months.

  • Dress in layers of clothing. This traps air between layers, forming a protective insulation.
  • Wear a hat or head scarf. Up to 30% of body heat is lost through your head.
  • Keep your hands and feet warm as they also tend to lose heat rapidly. Exposed hands, ears or any other body part will result in constricted blood flow to these appendages, increasing the risk of frostbite.
  • Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages before going outdoors or while outside. Alcohol gives an initial feeling of warmth, because blood vessels in the skin expand. Heat is then drawn away from the body's vital organs resulting in a net loss of heat.
  • Stay dry. Dampness causes the body to lose heat faster than it would at the same temperature in drier conditions.
  • Know your risk factors. Talk to your doctor about your family history and stay up to date on appropriate health screenings.

The winter is a wonderful season, and it’s important to take advantage of the activities which you can only do at this specific time of the year. For those of us in the South, it’s also a welcome reprieve from the hotter temperatures we experience for most of the year! Keep the tips above in mind next time the mercury drops, and your heart will thank you.

Tags
winter
cardiology
heart attack

You may also be interested in:

Broken cigarette
Conditions & Treatment
January 19, 2022

Quit Smoking With Our Free Program

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never tried to quit smoking before or if you’ve tried too many times to count, Ochsner’s smoking cessation program can help you quit for good.
By Tresser Mayho
Southern Recipe Cooking Swaps
Food & Fitness
October 28, 2021

Heart-Healthy Southern Recipe Swaps

Simple recipe swaps you can make to enjoy your favorite Southern dishes while being kind to your heart.
By Michael Castine, MD
Heart shaped mardi gras bead
Prevention & Wellness
February 9, 2022

Mardi Gras Heart Health

If you are on a low-sodium diet or prescription medication for high blood pressure, here's how to celebrate Mardi Gras safely.
By William Bennett, MD, PhD

Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637
Follow us: Facebook Visit Ochsner Health on Facebook Twitter Follow Ochsner Health on Twitter LinkedIn Visit Ochsner Health's LinkedIn page Instagram Follow Ochsner Health on Instagram YouTube Subscribe to Ochsner Health on YouTube Pinterest Follow Ochsner Health on Pinterest TikTok Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok
Sign up for our free health and wellness newsletters delivered straight to your inbox.
SIGN UP

Patients & Visitors

  • Billing & Financial Services
  • Insurance Information
  • International Patients
  • Request Medical Records
  • Share Your Story
  • Read Patient Stories

Medical Professionals

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Refer a Patient

Health Resources

  • To Your Health Blog
  • Golden Opportunity
  • Healthy State
  • Ochsner Magazine

Job Seekers

  • Career Paths
  • Benefits
  • Open Positions

Employees

  • Webmail
  • OHSLink
  • Workday

Employers

  • Corporate Wellness
  • Medicare Advantage Plans

Community Outreach

  • Classes & Events
  • Programs
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Education

  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Clinical Medical Education
  • Continuing Medical Education
  • Medical Library
  • Publishing Services
  • Medical Illustrations

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Applied Health Services Research
  • Clinical Research & Trials
  • Nursing Research
  • Translational Research

Giving

  • Donate
  • Volunteer

About Ochsner

  • Mission & Vision
  • History
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Annual Report
  • Outcomes & Honors
  • News & Media
  • Alumni
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Contact Us

Shop

  • O Bar
  • Optical Shop
  • Ochsner Fitness Center
  • Brent House Hotel

© Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Community Needs Health Assessment

EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

Subscribe to Our Newsletters

Select the newsletters you'd like to receive.

Please select at least one category to continue.

Curious about our newsletters?

View details for each edition

Let us know where to send your newsletters.

To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
To Your Health- General:
To Your Health- Men’s Health:
To Your Health- Parenting:
To Your Health- Women’s Health:
To Your Health-Mental Health Monthly":
To Your Health- Skin Deep:

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:

You're all set!

We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox.

Ochsner Health System
ESC to Close

Begin Typing to Search

Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide