The increase in infectious diseases can trigger heart attacks!

Cardiology Specialist Doğaç Okşen: Cold weather is not the only reason for more deaths due to heart attacks in winter. Increasing air pollution, traffic congestion, work stress and infectious diseases during winter months have also increased the risk of heart attacks.

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Cardiology Specialist Dr. pointed out that according to official statistics, there are more fatal heart attacks in winter. Lecturer Member Doğaç Okşen said, “As the temperature drops below 12 degrees in winter, the risk of heart attack increases. However, cold weather is not the only reason for more deaths due to heart attacks in winter. “Increased air pollution, traffic congestion, work stress and infectious diseases during winter months have also increased the risk of heart attacks,” he said.

Medical Park Bahçelievler Hospital Cardiology Specialist Dr. Lecturer Member Doğaç Okşen made a statement about heart attacks seen in cold weather. Dr. defined heart attack. Lecturer Member Okşen said, “It is a condition in which the heart muscles are damaged as a result of the blockage of the coronary arteries, which are the vessels that feed the heart, with spasm or clot, decreasing the amount of oxygen going to the heart muscles and not being able to provide the heart muscle with the oxygen necessary for its metabolism. “It is the most fatal group of cardiovascular diseases and if not intervened quickly, irreversible damage to the heart muscles occurs,” he said.

“The most common symptom is chest pain.”

Dr. says that heart attack symptoms may differ from person to person. Lecturer Member Okşen shared the following information:
“The most common symptom is chest pain. A pressing, squeezing or burning pain in the chest is the typical finding. Pain in the chest can spread to the back, shoulder, left arm, jaw and even teeth. Generally, more typical pain occurs in men. In women, the disease may occur with different symptoms. “A heart attack can be observed only in a way that can be confused with many other diseases such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and cold sweats.”

Watch out for pale skin and cold sweats

Dr. points out that the skin of a person who has a heart attack may be cold, pale and moist. Lecturer Member Okşen said, “Cold skin and cold sweats are caused by the heart’s inability to pump enough blood to the end organs. Nervousness, restlessness, anxiety and fear of death may be observed in the person. Nausea, vomiting, sudden low blood pressure, fainting and loss of consciousness may occur, especially as a result of blockage of the vessels feeding the right side of the heart. Rarely, hiccups due to stimulation of the diaphragm and cough due to low pulse may be observed. If there is serious damage to the heart muscle or valves, shortness of breath occurs due to fluid accumulation in the lungs. “This symptom is mostly seen in patients who apply to the hospital late and gives information about the more serious course of the disease,” he said.

“The risk increases as you get older.”

Emphasizing that the risk of heart attack increases in men over the age of 45 and in women after the age of 50, Dr. Lecturer Member Okşen said, “The average age for the first heart attack worldwide is 65.5 for men and 72 for women. The risk increases as a person gets older. “Although heart attacks are theoretically rarer at younger ages, research conducted by the American Society of Cardiology has shown that heart attack cases under the age of 40 have increased by 7 percent in the last 5 years,” he said.

“The risk of heart attack is twice as high in cold weather”

Stating that heart attacks are more common in cold weather, Dr. Lecturer Member Okşen said, “In official statistics, more fatal heart attacks were observed in winter. As the temperature drops below 12 degrees, the risk of heart attack increases. However, cold weather is not the only reason for more deaths in winter. Increasing air pollution, traffic congestion, work stress and infectious diseases during winter months have also increased the risk of heart attacks. In recent years, researchers have shown that the health effects of a cold day can last for the next two weeks.

Researchers report that the likelihood of heart attack and stroke more than doubles in prolonged cold weather. This is because blood vessels respond to low temperatures by constricting; This increases blood pressure and reduces circulation, placing more work on the heart. “In cold weather, the blood vessels of the skin, fingers and toes narrow to reduce heat loss, this narrowing is called ‘vasoconstriction’,” he said.

“It is possible to reduce the risk”

Pointing out that we can reduce the risk of heart attack through lifestyle changes, Dr. Lecturer Member Okşen said, “You may have had a heart attack before or heart diseases seem to be common in your family. Some of the risk factors for heart attack are unchangeable and vary with your genetic structure, gender and age. However, most of the risk factors can be controlled with a person’s efforts, appropriate treatments and lifestyle changes. “Making lifestyle changes is the most effective way to prevent having a heart attack (or a second heart attack),” he said.