|
Heart
Attacks: Cold Plays A Role
As winter temperatures settle in each year, emergency rooms
see an upsurge of men complaining of chest pain.
The explanation has long been that these heart attacks are
triggered by the unfamiliar physical exertion of shoveling
snow or the sudden shock of colder temperatures.
However, there's ample evidence that heart attacks also
increase during the winter in "sunbelt" states
such as Florida and California.
So, what's the connection?
Scientists now think that inactivity may be at least partially
responsible. A 1997 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention found Americans are less active in
wintertime all across the country. About one in three persons
engaged in no physical activity whatsoever in January --
a peak of inactivity that coincides neatly with the observed
increase in heart attacks.
Holiday stress and less sunlight may also be involved. Both
trigger depression in some people, which can induce a heart
attack.
Dr. Roy Ziegelstein, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins University
in Baltimore, discovered depressed people who have a cardiovascular
disease are less likely to follow their doctor's recommendations
to adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle -- including a low-fat
diet, routine exercise, no smoking, stress reduction and
regular socializing.
Another Hopkins researcher, Diane Becker, of the Center
for Health Promotion, found people who overreact to stressful
situations are more prone to constriction of their heart
arteries. She believes this may put them at a higher risk
of having a heart attack during physical activity, whether
it's snow shoveling or carrying heavy suitcases during the
holidays.
Dr. Thomas H. Lee, a cardiologist at Harvard University's
School of Medicine, did find cold plays a role in some heart
problems. Noting that cold temperatures can cause coronary
arteries to squeeze down, Lee said this constriction would
not be a problem for most people. However, for someone with
atherosclerotic plaque, the narrowing could lead to chest
pain or a heart attack.
He said a 30 percent blockage, which would not usually cause
chest discomfort, could become a 70 percent blockage in
very cold weather. Combining that with sudden physical stress
could bring on the classic winter heart attack.
Article Source: HealthDay
Article Author: N/A
Net Reference 101
|
