If you have heart disease, staying healthy during cold weather presents special challenges.
This can cause episodes ofangina, when the heart doesn’t receive enough blood flow, or evenheart attacks.
For people who haveheart failure, a rapid drop in environmental temperature can cause a sudden worsening of symptoms.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
It can also lead to an increased risk of hospitalization and even an increased risk of death.
That means when you have heart disease, the onset of cold temperatures requires special precautions.
Fortunately, these precautions generally fall into the category of common sense.
This article discusses how cold temperatures affect your heart.
It also lists five precautions to take in the cold weather when you have heart disease.
These normal adjustments can present a challenge if you have heart disease.
Cold temperatures cause your blood vessels to constrict or get more narrow.
This helps minimize heat loss from your blood to regulate your body’s normal internal temperature.
When your blood vessels constrict, your blood pressure increases.
Your heart has to work harder to pump blood through the constricted blood vessels in the body.
If you have a healthy cardiovascular system, this blood vessel constriction shouldn’t cause problems.
Recap
When it’s cold outside, your blood vessels constrict to minimize heat loss.
Your heart works harder to pump blood through your blood vessels.
If you have heart disease, it may put you at greater risk for a heart attack.
The cold temperature causes your blood vessels to constrict.
This increases your blood pressure and makes your heart work harder to pump blood.
Don’t overexert yourself in the cold weather and avoid drinking alcohol.
Also, remember to get your flu shot, since the flu is dangerous when you have heart disease.
A Word From Verywell
Cold temperatures cause physiological stress on anyone.
If you have heart disease, cold temperatures can be dangerous or even life-threatening.
double-check you take the common-sense precautions that can reduce your risk if you are in a cold environment.
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