Cold heart? The weather could take its toll on your cardiovascular health (Image: Getty)
Parts of the , with blizzards sweeping across the nation.
But did you know these biting temperatures could impact people with heart and circulation problems? According to the , people with cardiovascular disease over the age of 60 were twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke during a cold snap.
According to the BHF, “Cold weather can cause the heart rate to increase as the body’s working harder to stay warm, which increases blood pressure – it goes up to pump the blood around the body, so the heart is working harder,” explains Ruth Goss, a senior cardiac nurse with the charity.
“Blood can also thicken and get stickier which in worst cases can cause clots to form. These can increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.”
So how can we best protect ourselves during the current blizzards – and winters to come? We asked the experts for their tips for surviving – and thriving – in chilly weather and cold spells.
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SEE YOUR GP: Don’t head into winter simply hoping for the best, says Chorley-based. “See your doctor to check your blood pressure, review symptoms and medication,” he advises.
“If your condition is being managed by medications such as diuretics and ACE inhibitors for blood pressure, it needs to be looked at every year as your blood pressure can change without you knowing it. Consider buying a blood pressure machine so you can also check it at home.”
GET ORGANISED: With the vagaries of the weather and NHS pressures, BHF cardiac nurse Ruth Goss stresses the importance of planning ahead to ensure an interrupted supply of medication. “Draw up a schedule, set reminders on your phone or put dates for renewing your repeat prescriptions in your calendar,” she says.
Talk to pharmacies about delivery schemes and see if friends and family can pick up prescriptions during the colder spell.
LAYER IT: “If you have a heart condition, it’s extra important to stay warm,” says Goss. “Stay inside on the coldest days and even exercise indoors. Layer up in socks, jumpers and blankets and focus on heating yourself or the room that you’re in, to avoid heating your whole home.
“You may want to use blankets and hot water bottles, but never place them against bare skin. A hat, scarf and gloves will help maintain your core body temperature. People with angina – where reduced blood flow to the heart causes chest pain – should wear a face mask or scarf over their mouths and nose so they are inhaling slightly warmer air to limit their symptoms.”
DRINK UP: Keep up your fluid intake, even if it means more frequent trips to the toilet. “When you get cold your arteries constrict to maintain the body’s heat, this then increases blood pressure. The body reacts to this by making you pee more,” says Dr Uddin. “Some patients might then stop drinking as much to limit their trips to the toilet, risking dehydration.
“Meanwhile, patients who are taking diuretics for their heart conditions will often stop taking them because they’re going to the loo so much, which will then drive up their blood pressure.”
Dr Uddin suggests using the colour of your urine as a guide, “If it’s pale or straw-coloured you’re fine, but if it’s amber you need to increase your fluid intake.”
TAKE YOUR SUNSHINE VITAMIN: Vitamin D is dubbed the sunshine vitamin because you get it by exposing your skin to the summer sun. But in the UK our bodies can’t make it between April and October.
The elderly, people who are housebound, those who cover their skin and people with darker skin are in particular danger of deficiency. Smokers also have lower levels.
The , and for people who are housebound, in a care home, or wear clothes that cover their bodies, to take it throughout the year.
DITCH THE HOT TODDIES: They are the quintessential winter warmers, but could be doing more harm than good. “Alcohol is a toxin and a diuretic,” says Dr Uddin. “It’s linked to several ailments and is a risk factor for the development of multiple cancers. It also and it impairs your ability to regulate your body temperature.
“You might think you’re warmer than you are after a drink or two, which can be dangerous in very cold weather.” Stick to hot chocolate, he advises.
KEEP ON MOVING: If you find yourself stuck at home or snowed in thanks to inhospitable weather, you shouldn’t resort to lying on the sofa for days at a time.
“We should be doing 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, but you can break that down into 10-minute bursts at home,” says Goss. “That includes doing housework, moving around or climbing the stairs.”
Chartered physiotherapist Sammy Margo suggests downloading fitness apps, playing with grandchildren and dancing. “Body-weight exercises like push-ups, squats, lunges, and planks are great options. You can also use household items as substitutes for weights, such as water bottles or canned goods,” she says.
Watch the BHF’s 10-minute living room workout at its YouTube channel @BritishHeartFoundation, while the offers a range of workouts.
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY: “Being trapped inside is not a good thing for your physical or mental health,” says Dr Uddin. “So don’t wrap yourself up in cotton wool but acknowledge your limitations.
“If you’re getting symptoms of your disease, for instance, chest pains caused by angina, don’t push through. And if the cold is making you feel uncomfortable, you’ve been outside for too long.”
BOOK YOUR JABS: “Make sure you’re up to date with your flu and vaccines,” says Dr Uddin. “Heart disease will weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to other illnesses.”
Goss adds, “Flu can have serious complications as it puts a lot of pressure on the body.”
The flu vaccine is available on the NHS for over-65s, those with certain health conditions, are pregnant, a carer or living with someone who is immuno-compromised. boosters are offered on the NHS to the over-65s and those classified as being “in a clinical risk group”, among others.