Wise up to winter
Everybody recognises the signs of winter: fallen leaves,
darker evenings, and a drop in temperature. But do you know how the
cold could affect your heart health?
As the winter draws in, it is important to be aware of the
health risks presented by the cold weather and what you can do to
stay safe and keep your heart healthy.
Extreme cold weather can affect the heart by
increasing heart rate and blood
pressure. Chilly temperatures may also cause changes to your
blood which could increase the risk of developing blood clots. It
is important to note that elderly people are particularly
vulnerable to hypothermia in the winter months. As the
temperatures drop, bear in mind the impact that this could have on
your health and take steps to protect yourself against this by
wrapping up warm or even staying indoors.
Take steps to protect yourself by wrapping up warm
At
this time of year, the chance of
catching seasonal
influenza also increases. As well as experiencing the same
symptoms as a common cold, flu sufferers can experience muscle
aches and pain, a fever, a headache and a cough. The flu can be
more serious for people with heart conditions, so you are
recommended to get the flu vaccine in order to guard against taking
ill over the winter.
As well as protecting your own health, always
remember to keep an eye on elderly and vulnerable
friends, family and neighbours during those very cold snaps. It is
vital that more people recognise the symptoms and signs of a heart attack and
know to phone 999 for an ambulance immediately if you’re
worried.