Protect the Gift of a Beating Heart…Stay Warm

This is recorded in February 2026 when it is 3 degree on the thermometer here in PA.

And if you haven’t noticed, it is cold out there.

I am worried about heart attacks in a lot of people.

Why are heart attacks more common in winter?

Have you ever noticed that heart attacks seem to spike in the winter months?

It is not a coincidence. It is real, it is measurable, and it is well studied.

First of all, the cold weather changes how your body works.

When you are exposed to cold, your blood vessels constrict. Raising your blood pressure forces your heart to work harder just to move blood through the tighter pipes.

At the same time, the blood becomes a little bit thicker and more prone to clotting. That combination, high blood pressure and stickier blood, sets the stage for heart attack.

Second, winter stresses the system in many ways.

We see more respiratory infections like flu and pneumonia, which increase inflammation and oxygen demand. Add holiday stress, less physical activity, richer foods, more alcohol, disrupted sleep, and you have a perfect storm for cardiovascular events.

Third, and perhaps most important, shoveling snow is the classic trigger.

Cold air plus intense unaccustomed physical effort can abruptly increase the heart rate and the blood pressure, sometimes enough to rupture a plaque in the coronary artery. I will explain that in another video.

Let’s talk about numbers. Myocardial infarctions are the same exact thing as heart attacks. It depends on what part of the country you are from as to what they call it. Heart attacks rise by about 10 to 20 percent in the winter compared with the summer in many studies, with peaks in December and January. February is Heart Month, and hopefully it is the beginning of better behavior so next December or January you are not in as much risk.

Sudden cardiac death is often caused by a lethal heart rhythm disturbance like ventricular fibrillation. It also increases in the winter, but the rise is smaller and less consistent. Many sudden deaths are triggered by ischemia, meaning a heart attack or reduced blood flow sets off a fatal arrhythmia when that part of the heart does not get enough blood.

So here are the key takeaways.

-Winter does not just make people uncomfortable. It adds physiologic stress to an already vulnerable cardiovascular system. Cold tightens vessels, thickens blood, makes platelets more sticky, raises blood pressure, increases infection risk, and amplifies stress. All of these lead to more demand for oxygen. The heart is working so hard it can outstrip its oxygen supply.

The prevention message is simple.

• Dress warmly.
• Stay active but do it safely.
• Do not overdo sudden exertion.
• Get vaccinated.
• Manage blood pressure.
• If chest discomfort, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue shows up, do not wait.

It is Dr. Rob Gilio here saying protect the gift, the gift of a healthy heart.

Learn it, live it, share it, and stay warm.

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