Cardiac arrest cases increase in winters: doctors

With mercury set to go down making "weak hearts" even more vulnerable to disorder, it is time for cardiac patients to spend more time indoors and cut down exposures to cold. Read on...

With mercury set to go down making "weak hearts" even more vulnerable to disorder, it is time for cardiac patients to spend more time indoors and cut down exposures to cold.

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Doctors claim that they have noticed an increase of about 20 per cent incidence of cardiac arrests in winters as compared to warmer months as low temperatures increase the possibility of spasms in arteries.

"The main problem faced by cardiac patients in winters is greater chances of increased blood pressure levels. This in turn increases the needed quantity of BP controlling medicines," said Dr Vishal Rastogi, senior cardiologist at the Escorts Heart Institute here.

Low temperature is a major cause of spasms in arteries that carry blood to the heart, thus forcing the heart to pump more blood, increasing BP levels and raising the probability of heart attacks.

"The incidences are higher in India as we do not live in artificially regulated temperatures," said Rastogi.

"It is therefore imperative for people with heart ailments to take as much precaution as possible to prevent exposure to cold," he said.

For all those who have a routine for early morning walks, should delay it to post sunrise.

"The appropriate time to venture out for morning walks in the winter months should be 8:30 am as the early morning chill has subsided, with the sun appearing on the skies," said Dr Umesh Gupta, senior cardiologist at Umkal Healthcare.

Temperature often plummets to less than 5 degree Celsius in the peak winter months of December and January.