Winter brings cardiac implications
September 21, 2008 by Kendra James, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
As we slide into fall and the skies get darker earlier, sweatshirts are on at the bus stop and the leaves are turning beautiful colors, I can’t help but think… winter will be here soon.
When you really stop and think about it, aren’t you more active in the summer months than the winter months? I think I am with the pool, walks in the evenings and running with the kids all day long. So this little tidbit of information shouldn’t come as a huge surprise.
A five-year study found people treated in the summer were on average 8% more likely to see their blood pressure come down to healthy levels.
These same findings were reported from 15 VA hospitals across the US. Not only are blood pressure’s elevated in the winter months but the incidence of stroke and heart attacks are also higher. Is it the slowed activity, the colder weather and thus vasoconstriction or the salty “winter”type hot foods that we consume? Maybe it is all of the above.
via BBC
