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WHAT: The Cold Truth About Winter Heart Risks - What High Blood Pressure Suffers Should Know to Stay Healthy
WHO: Dr. Roger S. Blumenthal, Director of the Prevention of Heart Disease at Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center and Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
As the winter season begins to set in, people around the country are bracing themselves for the cold weather. To most of us, the cold is a nuisance – but for those with high blood pressure, it can come along with serious health risks. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), 65 million Americans suffer from high blood pressure, or hypertension. Of the those people with high blood pressure, nearly one in three, or 20 million, are unaware of their condition.
Some research suggests that people with high blood pressure seem to be more vulnerable to heart attacks when the temperature drops. This is because cold weather makes the blood vessels constrict, making it harder for blood to move through. Even something as simple as taking an over–the-counter medication can be potentially dangerous for high blood pressure sufferers. The AHA says that decongestants have been reported to increase blood pressure, and even interfere with blood pressure medicines in some patients.
Roger S. Blumenthal, MD is the Director of the Johns Hopkins, Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, and Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His clinical interests include hyperlipidemia, hypertension, management of coronary disease and preventive cardiology.
Dr. Blumenthal addresses:
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Tips on avoiding winter "heartache" § Avoid decongestants if you have high blood pressure: Decongestants have been found to increase blood pressure and interfere with its treatment. § Stay out of the cold: People with heart disease often suffer chest pain or discomfort called angina when they're in cold weather. § Don't over-exert yourself: Some studies suggest that harsh winter weather may increase a person's risk of heart attack due to overexertion, such as shoveling snow. |