Winter Increases the Risk of Heart Attacks: 6 Warning Signs to Watch Out For

Dec 08, 2024 | 0 comments posted by Nature Target

What is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack primarily occurs when the arteries supplying blood to the heart, known as coronary arteries, become blocked, leading to an acute obstruction. This reduces or interrupts blood flow to the heart muscle, and if not treated promptly, it can lead to loss of life.

What Factors Can Trigger a Heart Attack?

Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits

Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, irregular eating habits, overeating, overworking, and high stress levels can not only cause the blood vessel walls to thicken and form blood clots, but also lead to sudden vessel constriction and spasm. Heart attacks in young people are often linked to these unhealthy lifestyle habits.

Chronic Diseases

Conditions like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and obesity can alter the nature of blood vessel walls, thereby increasing the risk of heart attacks.

Age

With aging, coronary arteries can accumulate lipid deposits, leading to a gradual formation of atherosclerotic plaques. When these plaques rupture, they can form blood clots, blocking the coronary arteries.

Acute Stress Events

Sudden intense emotions, excessive physical activity, and even acute illnesses like severe infections can trigger a heart attack.

Why Are Heart Attacks More Common in Winter?

Winter is a peak season for heart attacks. Heart attacks are influenced by climate, primarily because cold temperatures stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, causing blood vessels to constrict, blood pressure to rise, and heart rate to increase. This also leads to increased levels of fibrinogen in the blood, reducing fibrinolysis activity and making the blood more prone to clotting.

Additionally, cold weather activates platelets, increases blood viscosity, and slows blood flow, significantly increasing the likelihood of blood clots blocking the coronary arteries.

Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

The most typical symptom of an acute heart attack is chest pain accompanied by profuse sweating. The pain often starts behind the breastbone or in the precordial area and can be about the size of a palm. It is not sharp like a needle prick, and lasts more than 15 minutes, sometimes for hours without relief. The pain is often described as squeezing, crushing, or a tight sensation, as if a heavy stone is placed on the chest or wrapped tightly with tape.

In the hours or even days leading up to a heart attack, some atypical warning signs may appear. These should not be ignored:

Neck or Throat Pain: In the days before a heart attack, you may experience discomfort in the throat or neck. This sensation is often described as a blockage or tightness, sometimes accompanied by sweating.
Tooth Pain: Severe toothaches that are not caused by any apparent dental issue can also be a sign. Sometimes, the pain is diffuse, affecting multiple teeth, and pain relievers or dental treatments may not help.
Upper Abdominal Pain: Dead heart muscle can irritate the vagus nerve, and a decrease in heart output can lead to insufficient blood supply to the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or nausea that won't subside. The discomfort in the stomach may worsen and spread, raising suspicion of a heart attack.
Neck and Back Pain: Since the sensory nerve fibers of the heart are distributed across the sympathetic nerve ganglia in the neck and chest, heart-related pain often radiates to the neck and upper back.
Left Shoulder Pain: Pain caused by heart ischemia may radiate to the left shoulder, the inner side of the left arm, or even the little finger and ring finger.

What to Do if You Suspect a Heart Attack

Call Emergency Services Immediately

Dial 911 (or your local emergency number) and provide your exact location. Inform the operator that you or someone else may be having an acute heart attack. Time is critical — treatment within the first 120 minutes is vital, so call as soon as possible.

Stay Calm While Waiting for Help

Help the patient lie down and stay calm. Open doors and windows to ensure emergency personnel can easily locate you.

Perform CPR if Cardiac Arrest Occurs

If the patient becomes unresponsive and shows no signs of breathing, perform CPR immediately.

Chest Compressions: Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest, overlapping with the other hand. Keep your arms straight and use your body weight to press down, compressing the chest at least 5 cm (2 inches). Perform compressions at a rate of 100–120 per minute.
Rescue Breathing: After clearing the airway, pinch the patient's nose and blow into their mouth. Perform 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths. Continue for 5 cycles (about 2 minutes) until emergency responders arrive.

How to Prevent a Heart Attack

Regular Health Checkups

Monitor blood pressure and lipid levels regularly, and treat any underlying conditions like hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia.

Healthy Diet

Eat a balanced diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, fish, and whole grains.
Limit intake of animal fats and saturated fats.
Avoid organ meats and fried foods, and control cholesterol intake.
Limit salt to no more than 6 grams, oil to no more than 25 grams, and added sugars to no more than 25 grams per day.