▲The doctor reminds that you must keep warm when it is cold. If necessary, you can use a scarf to loosely wrap your mouth and nose, or wear a mask to let yourself breathe warm air; the picture is a situational photo, and the characters in the picture have nothing to do with this article.

(Photo credit: shutterstock)

Text/Guo Zhidong

The cold snap hits and the temperature drops sharply. The risk of heart health in cold weather cannot be ignored.

Three-high patients and the elderly are especially vulnerable in winter.

When the temperature drops, the blood vessels constrict and the blood pressure rises accordingly. Coupled with the acceleration of the heartbeat, the burden on the heart is greater than usual.

At the same time, the blood also becomes thicker and, in some cases, even clots.

These can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Please read on...

◎The following 7 simple suggestions:

●Reduce going out, if possible, try to spend most of the time in a space where the indoor temperature is kept at least above 18°C.

Wear warm clothing such as socks and a turtleneck sweater.

Hot water bottles, electric blankets, and heaters can help keep you warm at night.

Reduce wearing hats, scarves and gloves when going out

●Wear several pieces of thin clothing instead of just one thick one.

Doing so can retain heat better and keep the body warmer.

Hats, scarves, and gloves also help keep your body's core warm.

●Do not sit or lie down all the time when you stay indoors. You need to maintain a moderate amount of exercise, which can not only increase your core temperature, but also enhance your immunity.

Drink hot drinks to keep warm and avoid fatty, salty and spicy food

●Eating warm food and healthy hot drinks can provide the energy needed by the body to keep warm, for example: a bowl of homemade vegetable soup is healthy and filling.

●Foods high in oil and sodium, such as spicy hot pot, pork belly, snowflake beef, etc., are a big burden on heart health, so it is not advisable to eat more.

When you are thirsty, if you drink cold drinks, even drinks containing ice cubes, sometimes because the temperature difference is too large, it will cause considerable stimulation to the heart and blood vessels, so try to avoid it.

●If a patient with symptoms of angina or chest pain becomes more severe in winter, wrapping the mouth and nose loosely with a scarf or wearing a mask to allow oneself to breathe warm air may help relieve symptoms.

●If you have cough or cold symptoms, rest as much as possible and drink plenty of water.

Seek medical attention as soon as possible, because severe infections and fever can increase the heart rate and increase the burden on the heart.

For the elderly or patients with three high levels, vaccinations against influenza, COVID-19, and Streptococcus pneumoniae can prevent infection and related severe diseases.

(The author is a physician at the Cardiovascular Center of Cathay General Hospital)

▲A bowl of homemade vegetable soup is healthy and filling.

(Photo courtesy/Guo Zhidong)

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