Warning! 10 deadly heart problems that spike every winter

Cardiovascular diseases kill more people than anything else worldwide. Back in 2008, they caused over 17 million deaths, which is about 30% of all deaths around the globe. But these problems, like heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots, don’t spread out evenly through the year.

Instead, numbers usually jump in winter when it gets cold outside. Researchers have tied this seasonal spike to things like low temperatures, people moving around less, more air pollution, catching infections, and changes in what we eat. Blood chemistry also shifts with the seasons. Hormones and clotting factors, for example, rise in the colder months. No one has ever answered why this happens, but the seasonal pattern is clear.

In this article, you will get to know how major cardiovascular conditions change with the seasons.A study published by PubMed Central mentions how winters might trigger heart issues.

Deep Venous ThrombosisDeep venous thrombosis, or DVT, happens when a blood clot forms in the deep veins, usually in your legs. Study after study finds DVT cases climb in winter. It’s not just the cold low air pressure, strong winds, and heavy rain also seem to play a part.

Cold weather slows people down, so they move less, and blood doesn’t flow as quickly in the legs. The body’s ability to break down clots drops, too. On top of that, winter air pollution, especially in big cities, can mess with how blood clots and how platelets work, making clots more likely.Pulmonary EmbolismA pulmonary embolism occurs when one of those blood clots travels to the lungs. Like DVT, it peaks in winter. Most research says there are more cases in the colder months, especially January, and fewer in summer.

One big study showed the risk of venous thromboembolism goes up by about 14% in winter. Some studies do see peaks in autumn or spring, and a few see no clear pattern at all. Still, the weight of the evidence points to a real seasonal effect.

Why? Higher clotting factors, less movement, and blood vessels tightening up in the cold all play a role.Aortic Rupture and Aortic DissectionBoth aortic rupture and aortic dissection, where the main artery leaving your heart is damaged, are emergencies.

They, too, turn up more often in winter, though some studies spot peaks in spring or autumn. Only a few find no seasonal link. High blood pressure and smoking matter a lot here. In winter, people spend more time inside, probably with more secondhand smoke. The cold itself can crank up your blood pressure by activating the sympathetic nervous system, which bumps up heart rate and squeezes your blood vessels.

Plus, cold weather increases fibrinogen, thickens your blood, and makes clots more likely.

All that extra stress on the artery wall can lead to rupture.StrokeStroke numbers shift with the seasons, too. Nearly half the studies worldwide report more strokes in autumn and winter. About 39% find a peak in warmer months, and just a few see no seasonal difference. Transient ischaemic attacks, those mini-strokes, follow a similar pattern, with more happening in the colder half of the year. Cold raises blood pressure and thickens blood, both of which make strokes more likely.

Infections, air pollution, and less sunlight probably don’t help, either.HypertensionBlood pressure isn’t immune to the seasons. Research shows that both systolic and diastolic blood pressure go up in winter and drop in summer. Why? Colder weather, less physical activity, lower vitamin D, shifts in cholesterol, and more stress hormones during winter all seem to drive it.Heart failureHospitals see more people with heart failure during winter.

Cold weather makes blood vessels tighten, putting extra strain on the heart and sometimes causing fluid to back up in the lungs. People with chronic heart failure have a harder time exercising in the cold, too. Higher blood pressure, low vitamin D, winter viruses like the flu, and air pollution all pile on and make things worse.Nontraumatic Intracerebral HaemorrhageNontraumatic intracerebral haemorrhage is a kind of stroke that happens when there’s bleeding inside the brain, not caused by an injury.

No one has nailed down exactly why this happens. Still, high blood pressure and cold weather come up again and again. Blood pressure tends to climb during winter, and that spike can set off bleeding in the brain. It makes up about ten percent of all strokes. Across a bunch of countries like Bangladesh, Japan, Britain, Romania, Portugal, and others, people see more cases in winter and fewer in summer.

The pattern pops up pretty consistently.Atrial Fibrillation (AF)Atrial fibrillation, or AF, is an irregular heartbeat that raises the risk of stroke. Loads of studies point to AF showing up more during the colder months, especially autumn and winter. Countries like Japan, Finland, Poland, Israel, Scotland, and Australia have all noticed this trend.Researchers think temperature, humidity, and air pressure all play a role in these seasonal patterns, especially for older adults or anyone with heart disease or high blood pressure.

There’s still a lot to figure out about why AF shifts with the seasons.Ventricular Arrhythmias (VA)Ventricular arrhythmias are abnormal heart rhythms that can turn life-threatening fast. Both animals and people show these conditions crop up more in winter. Cold weather seems to boost the risk of serious arrhythmias like ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.Angina PectorisAngina pectoris is chest pain that comes from reduced blood flow to the heart.

Research from Italy and Russia shows more cases in winter and autumn, probably because cold and humidity team up to stress the heart. Both men and women are affected, though temperature seems to hit each gender a bit differently.(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider if you have any questions about your health or before making any changes to your lifestyle, medication or treatment plan. The information shared here is based on research findings and may not apply to every individual.)