Why Capital Chill Could Prove Lethal For Vulnerable Hearts

New Delhi: Doctors have warned that the cold conditions in the city can aggravate health issues of those with pre-existing heart ailments. A fall in temperature can increase thickness of blood vessels, causing a sudden rise in blood pressure and subsequent stroke.
The extreme cold is especially worrying for vulnerable people, such as the elderly, children and patients with hypertension, diabetes or respiratory illnesses.
“Those with ailments, a weak heart or a history of heart failure should not be exposed to this weather,” said Dr Rakesh Yadav, professor at AIIMS. He added that people staying in extreme cold places should take proper precautions.
Prof Yadav said bedroom and washroom temperature should be maintained. “After taking a hot shower, people should not enter a room which is cold,” he added. He advised using heaters to maintain the temperature, adding that humidifiers can make the room less dry. However, he cautioned against the use of angeethis as they release deadly gas.
Prof Yadav also said multiple layers of clothing should be worn while stepping out of the house but morning walks should be avoided.
Dr Guarav Jain, senior consultant, internal medicine, Dharamshila Narayana, said people must ensure they dry themselves completely after taking a bath as most have a tendency to get out of the washroom when they are wet or partially wet, which exposes the body to extreme temperatures and can cause problems.
“Sudden changes in temperature can cause fluctuation in blood pressure (BP),” he said, adding that BP tends to rise during the winter as cold causes blood vessels to contract.
When blood vessels contract, the heart uses more force to push blood through smaller passageways, pushing up BP. When this happens, a person’s blood is prone to clotting. A clot blocks the flow of oxygen and blood to the brain or heart, which can cause a stroke. Besides, lack of physical activity can also contribute to a spike in BP.
Dr Balbir Singh, chairman of cardiac sciences, Max Superspeciality Hospital, Saket, said although elderly people are more prone, youth get heart attacks nowadays too. “People tend to overlook hydration during the winter. It causes increased viscosity of the blood, which leads to blockages and red blood cells clogging up the arteries,” he said, advising people to stay hydrated.
Similarly, Dr Arun Sharma, senior consultant (neurosurgery) at Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, said, “Lack of hydration causes a hypercoagulable state, when blood becomes thicker and stickier. It can increase the risk of ischemic stroke where clots block the blood vessels,” he said.
“Incidences of ischemic stroke increase significantly in the winter, especially when the temperature falls sharply. It’s important to take care of vulnerable people in such extreme conditions. Keeping your blood pressure under control is very important, besides keeping other medical conditions like diabetes and hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) in check,” said Dr Sumit Goyal, head of neuro intervention and senior consultant (neurosurgery), PSRI Hospital.
“Heart attacks in winter are more likely among those with pre-existing risk factors, like smokers, obese people, hypertension patients, those with heart conditions and who consume excessive alcohol,” said Dr Vineeta Taneja, director (internal medicine), Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh. She advised people to monitor blood pressure and sugar levels regularly.
Dr Nameet Jerath, senior consultant (paediatric pulmonology and critical care), Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, pointed out that smog associated with cold is a bigger issue. “We are more exposed to it. Children with a tendency to have recurrent coughs and colds can be more severely affected by smog and cold. They need to be more cautious,” he said.