Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of death worldwide. So much so that 200 thousand people die every year in our country due to cardiovascular diseases. With the cold weather in winter, the incidence of cardiovascular diseases increases. The main reason for this is the astringent effect of cold weather and the heart has to work harder to meet the body’s heat need in cold weather. Due to the narrowing of the coronary vessels that feed the heart, the heart cannot receive the amount of blood it wants, that is, the oxygen it needs, and as a result, malnutrition occurs in the heart. Thus, the amount of blood going to the heart tissue decreases. The fact that the heart has to work harder to provide the heat the body needs also tires the heart. These problems are; It can cause an increase in complaints such as chest pain and shortness of breath, especially in patients with known cardiovascular disease or heart failure, and worse, the risk of heart attack increases approximately 3 times.
Acıbadem Bakırköy Hospital Cardiology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Mutlu Güngör also points out that lower and upper respiratory tract infections, the incidence of which increases with cold weather, especially flu, causes a decrease in body resistance and an increase in the workload of the heart, and says, “This picture can lead to the onset of clinical complaints in heart patients who are in a stable condition.” In addition, there are some mistakes that almost all of us make in our daily lives in the winter season, which tire our hearts; It can lead to the development of cardiovascular diseases or to trigger existing diseases. Cardiology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Mutlu Güngör talked about 7 important mistakes we often make during the winter months; made important suggestions and warnings.
Mistake: Walking against the wind
Actually: Wind is one of the factors that negatively affect heart health during the winter months. The reason for this is that the wind causes the veins to shrink by removing the warm air layer formed in our chest area. The narrowing of the coronary vessels also causes a decrease in the amount of blood going to the heart tissue. As a result, chest pain may develop in windy weather, especially in people with cardiovascular disease, and more importantly, the risk of heart attack increases. Therefore, you should not walk against the wind, avoid going out in windy weather or wear protective clothing.
Mistake: Using drugs unconsciously in influenza infections
Actually: For lower and upper respiratory tract infections, which are common in winter; Anti-flu, analgesic and antipyretic drugs, and sometimes antibiotics are used. But beware! Cardiology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Mutlu Güngör, warning that these prescribed drugs may interact with the heart drugs you use, said, “The drugs used unconsciously, especially in patients with heart failure, can sometimes cause fatal rhythm disorders. For this reason, you should only use your medications under the supervision of a physician, and you should definitely inform your doctor who plans the treatment about your current heart medications you use.
Mistake: Consuming excessively heavy and fatty foods
Actually: During the winter months, the amount of energy we need to take increases due to the increasing heat requirement of our body. However, since we move less than in the summer, weight gain is inevitable when we overdo it in food consumption. Excess weight also increases the workload of the heart. For this reason, it is very important that we maintain our ideal weight in the winter season. Assoc. Dr. Mutlu Güngör says, “In this sense, it is very important not to consume excessively heavy and fatty meals, to avoid simple sugars, and to drink enough fluids for the excretion of toxins.”
Mistake: Smoking cigarettes to keep warm in cold weather
Actually: Smoking causes constriction of the heart vessels and, as a result, the deterioration of oxygenation of the body, as well as important problems such as increased blood pressure. Cigarette smoking in cold weather also increases the workload of the heart due to the constrictive effect of the veins. Cardiology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Mutlu Güngör said, “Especially in patients with cardiovascular disease, smoking in cold weather can cause chest pain and shortness of breath, and sometimes even trigger a heart attack. Smoking threatens our health not only in winter but also in all seasons. Therefore, it is vital to quit smoking as soon as possible.”
Mistake: Not doing sports
Actually: Most of us avoid going outside because we are afraid of getting sick with the cold weather in winter. But a sedentary life; It can result in suppression of the immune system and weight gain. It can also cause problems such as the deterioration of our blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol regulation. Therefore, make a habit of taking brisk walks for at least 45 minutes every day if possible, if not at least 5 days a week, especially at noon when the weather is hot and sunny. Do not forget to use protective accessories such as berets, gloves and scarves so that your body temperature does not drop during the walk.
Mistake: Heavy exercise early in the morning
Actually: For your heart health, it is vital that you do not interrupt your sports during the winter months. However, in the early morning hours when the sympathetic system, in other words, adrenergic activity is high; you need to avoid strenuous exercise such as vigorous walking, muscle strengthening exercises and cycling. Because the sympathetic system activity is more in the period until 09:00 in the morning, the heart rate and blood pressure values are higher than in the afternoon, and the risk of constriction of the vessels is also higher than in the afternoon. That’s why tough and intense exercises done early in the morning; It can cause complaints such as chest pain and shortness of breath, and even trigger a heart attack. Cardiology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Mutlu Güngör said, “Therefore, take care to do your exercises in the afternoon, when the weather is clear and warm. If you do not have time outside of the morning hours; It is beneficial to choose light-paced walks or relaxation exercises,” he says.
Mistake: Dressing too thick or thin
Actually: When we enter a closed area or a warmer environment with thick clothing, we sweat. While sweat evaporates in our body; It causes our body temperature to drop, thus making us feel cold. Or, on the contrary, when we prefer a thin outfit, we may feel cold in the evening with the cold weather. In both cases, our heart has to exert more effort to raise its body temperature. Cardiology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Mutlu Güngör said, “Instead of very thick or thin clothes, you should prefer thin but layered clothes. Dressing in layers provides an insulating effect by creating a layer of air between the clothes, thus better protecting the body from the cold. You can protect yourself from both sweating and cold by changing clothes according to the temperature of the environment. Assoc. Dr. Mutlu Güngör said, “Besides, since heat loss in the body starts especially from the head and end parts of the body, you should wear protective clothing such as gloves, berets and scarves in very cold weather, and if necessary, you should cover your mouth and nose with a scarf to avoid breathing cold air into your lungs. In addition, you should avoid synthetic clothes that will not allow you to breathe and sweat.