Heart health tips for when the mercury dips
By Michael Merschel, American Heart Association 线上电子游戏飞禽走兽
冬天是一年中进行各种凉爽活动的最佳线上电子游戏飞禽走兽——滑雪, skating and ice fishing, 仅举几个例子.
不幸的是，随着温度的下降，心脏问题的风险也在增加. 即使你住的地方离最近的冰山很远，寒冷的天气也会带来问题. Studies have linked low temperatures to an increased risk of stroke, heart-related chest pain, 心律问题以及因心力衰竭和心脏骤停而死亡.
心脏病专家博士. Sherrie Khadanga说，在寒冷的天气里，心脏病发作的风险增加是人们最担心的问题. “通常情况下，这是由于患者过度劳累自己进行剧烈的体力活动, such as shoveling or walking through heavy snow,卡丹加说, 他是伯灵顿佛蒙特大学拉纳医学院的医学助理教授.
Dr. 理查德Gumina, 他是哥伦布俄亥俄州立大学韦克斯纳医学中心的介入心脏病专家和副教授, 他说，心脏骤停——心脏突然停止跳动——与寒冷有关. "Sometimes cardiac arrest can be due to a heart attack,古米娜说。, 他也是俄亥俄州立医学院融合研究的副院长. “其他时候，这可能是由于剧烈运动和寒冷天气导致的心律问题."
Khadanga说，一个主要的风险因素来自你身体对寒冷的基本反应. 为了保暖, blood vessels constrict to limit blood flow to your skin, which raises your blood pressure. “这本身就会增加心脏病发作或中风的风险，”她说.
The lower the air temperature, the worse the problem, 她说, and the concern is highest among people with existing heart disease, whose blood flow is already restricted. 但很多人直到出现胸痛等症状才意识到自己患有心脏病, Gumina说.
Even people living in warm climates can be affected. A 研究综述, published in March in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, looked at data from several studies and found that overall, cold spells increased deaths from cardiovascular disease by 32%. 这种影响在天气通常较温和的地区比经常寒冷的地区更为明显.
但, in news that should warm your heart, Gumina和Khadanga提供了一些简单的保护自己的方法.
穿上装备
Khadanga tells her patients that when they're outside, "not only should they be wearing layers of clothing, 还有帽子, gloves and heavy socks" to stay warm.
To that, Gumina adds a mask, "so you're not taking in just cold air."
但 don't overdo it, Khadanga said. “如果你在外面，你想穿得暖和些，但你又不想过热."
铲雪? 慢慢走
几项研究已经将铲雪与心脏病发作的高风险联系起来. 问题的一部分, Gumina说, is that people who aren't usually physically active will attempt it. 心脏不适合举重，再加上冷收缩的血管也可能部分被斑块阻塞，这两种情况的结合会使心脏缺乏功能所需的富氧血液.
古米纳说，他建议他的心脏病患者寻求帮助来清理车道. 但 those who insist on doing it themselves need to be careful.
就像你不会跳到最高水平和最陡角度的跑步机上开始跑步一样, 他说, 你不应该直接跑到车道上，猛烈地攻击积雪. "Ensure that you've given yourself a little warmup period," 他说.
Then, "bite it off in small pieces," 他说, with frequent breaks. 并且知道 symptoms of a heart attack, which can include chest discomfort, shortness of breath and nausea.
Stay active – carefully
在佛蒙特州, Khadanga is surrounded by people who ski, snowboard and do other outdoor activities in the cold. Even for healthy, active people, taking breaks is important, 她说. “你先往山下跑几圈，然后回到屋里热身，”她说.
Staying physically active is a crucial component of heart health, and you shouldn't be afraid to go out in the cold, Gumina说. 但 you have to be aware of potential problems.
古米纳说，冬天不是一年中进行户外锻炼的好时机. “你想提前一段线上电子游戏飞禽走兽进行锻炼, and then you can transition into something that is cold." And if you are going out in the cold weather, "I always tell people to go in pairs," because of the risk of slipping on ice.
And stay hydrated, 他说. “在寒冷的天气里，你不会意识到自己出了多少汗."
储备药物
卡丹加提醒她的病人，一定要在冬季暴风雪到来之前配药. "Snow and ice can make the roads extra slippery, and I wouldn't want a patient to run out of necessary medication."
Vaccines are a heart health issue
寒冷的天气让人们呆在室内，这增加了感染流感或COVID-19的风险. 研究显示 患流感一周内心脏病发作的风险是原来的六倍, and COVID-19 has been linked to 巨大风险 of heart problems and stroke.
"Everyone needs a flu shot and their COVID vaccination," Gumina说. “我们知道这些东西可以降低患严重疾病的风险."