Winter Alert! 10 Heart Conditions That Spike in the Cold

Heart diseases are the leading killers across the world, with over 20.5 million deaths annually - primarily from heart attacks and strokes. According to doctors, risk factors like high blood pressure,

unhealthy diets, tobacco, and air pollution drive preventable deaths, despite a global effort to curb the trend. Also, in cold weather, the number of those affected with cardiovascular issues increases. Studies say seasonal spike is related to things like low temperatures, less movement, high air pollution, viral and bacterial infections, and changes in diet. Since the blood chemistry also shifts with the seasons, there is a high risk of hormones and clotting factors.

Heart issues that silently spike in winter

A few cardiovascular issues that you need to be wary of, especially in colder weather, include:

Hypertension

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a major health risk during the winter months, as your blood vessels may constrict – making the heart pump harder. According to doctors, those with existing high blood pressure – mostly the elderly, and those with heart conditions need to be extra vigilant in cold weather, requiring regular monitoring and lifestyle adjustments.

Pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism or PE is mostly triggered due to blood vessel constriction in winter months, which increases coagulation and reduces activity, thereby leading to harder-working hearts - especially for older adults and women. The condition is a blockage in an artery in the lungs, most often caused by a blood clot that has traveled from a deep vein. Doctors say the cold itself causes physiological stress and increases blood pressure and heart strain, making blood clot formation more likely.

Heart failure

Heart failure is one of the most dangerous and life-threatening cardiac issues, which sees a significant risk in winter due to cold weather spiking blood pressure and heart workload - making blood thicker and prone to clotting. Doctors say all of these worsen respiratory infections - straining your heart, especially for those with pre-existing conditions. The risk can even linger for days after cold exposure.

Aortic rupture and dissection

Aortic rupture and dissection - a tear in the inner lining of the aorta which allows blood to surge between layers - are a major wintertime risk which often peaks in January - linked to cold weather as most people have increased blood pressure levels and vascular stress. Doctors say factors like respiratory infections and holiday stress activate the nervous system, constrict blood vessels, and also thicken blood, raising risk.

Nontraumatic Intracerebral Haemorrhage

Experts say there is a significant risk of a rise in non-traumatic intracerebral haemorrhage, a kind of stroke that happens when there is bleeding inside the brain, not caused by an injury. According to experts, this seasonal variation is strongly linked to colder ambient temperatures and is particularly pronounced in individuals with pre-existing hypertension.

Stroke

Strokes do spike in winter as blood vessels begin to constrict, increasing blood pressure, compounded by cold weather that leads to inflammation, and lifestyle factors like less activity.

Atrial fibrillation or AFib

Atrial fibrillation (AFib), which causes your heart's upper chambers to beat irregularly, significantly increases episodes, hospitalizations, and related strokes, which spike in winter due to cold temperatures stressing the cardiovascular system, increased respiratory illnesses, higher blood pressure, changes in air pressure, dehydration, and holiday-related factors like stress, diet, and alcohol. Doctors say exposure to cold activates the sympathetic nervous system, which increases blood pressure, atrial strain, and blood clotting.

Ventricular Arrhythmias

Ventricular arrhythmias are a major risk factor in the winter season, mostly because of a combination of physiological responses to cold and seasonal lifestyle factors that put extra strain on the heart. In winter, your body's blood vessels naturally narrow to conserve body heat, increasing blood pressure and forcing your heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body, which triggers irregular rhythms in vulnerable individuals.

Angina

Angina, also known as angina pectoris, is chest pain or discomfort from the heart muscle not getting enough oxygen-rich blood, usually due to narrowed coronary arteries from plaque buildup. According to experts, cases of angina spike in winter because cold temperatures cause your blood vessels to constrict, thereby the heart works harder to pump oxygen-rich blood, increasing blood pressure and strain. This combination of vessel narrowing, increased demand, and physical stress can trigger or worsen angina episodes, especially in people with pre-existing coronary artery disease.