Easy Tips To Take Care of Your Heart in Winter
As the temperature drops in Kolkata, we swap our cottons for woollens and enjoy the pleasant chill. However, while the winter breeze feels refreshing, it can quietly put extra strain on your heart.
Did you know that heart attacks and heart-related complications spike during the colder months? At Eskag Sanjeevani Hospital , we often see an increase in patients reporting chest discomfort and breathlessness as the season changes. This isn’t a coincidence—it is biology.
In this blog, we will explain why cold weather affects your cardiovascular system, clarify what heart failure is, and provide actionable tips for heart care in winter to keep you and your family safe.
Takeaways
Winter cold causes blood vessels to narrow, increasing blood pressure and the risk of heart attacks, making heart care in winter essential.
Symptoms like breathlessness, swollen ankles, and fatigue are signs of heart failure, a condition that requires immediate medical attention but can be managed effectively.
Eskag Sanjeevani Hospital offers world-class cardiac care with the best cardiologist in Kolkata, ensuring you have access to expert treatment close to home.
Why is Winter Tough on Your Heart?
Your heart has to work harder to keep your body warm in winter. Here is the science simply put:
- Narrowing Arteries: Cold weather causes your blood vessels to constrict (tighten). This is your body’s way of preserving heat, but it also raises your blood pressure.
- Thicker Blood: Lower temperatures can cause your blood platelets to clump together, which increases the risk of clotting.
- Increased Heart Rate: To maintain body temperature, your heart beats faster, which adds physical stress to the heart muscle.If you are already managing conditions like hypertension or diabetes, this “winter triad” demands extra caution.
Understanding the Risks: What is Heart Failure?
One term that often causes panic is “heart failure.” It does not mean the heart has stopped working completely. Instead, heart failure means the heart is too weak or stiff to pump blood effectively around the body.
Common Symptoms to Watch For:
- Breathlessness after simple activities or even when lying down.
- Extreme fatigue and weakness.
- Swollen ankles, legs, or abdomen (due to fluid build-up).
- Constant coughing (more than 1 week), often with white or pinkish mucus.
If you notice these signs, especially during winter, it is vital to consult a medicine doctor or cardiologist near you. Ignoring these signs can lead you to severe complications.
5 Essential Tips for Heart Care in Winter
Protecting your heart doesn’t require drastic lifestyle changes. Here are 5 simple ways to stay safe this season:
1. Layer Up to Stay Warm
Instead of one thick heavy jacket, wear layers of thin clothing. Layers trap heat more effectively. Keeping your core warm helps prevent your blood vessels from constricting, which helps keep your blood pressure stable. Do not forget a hat and scarf—we lose a lot of heat through our heads!
2. Move Your Exercise Indoors
Morning walks are great, but walking in the freezing early morning air can shock your system. If it is very cold or foggy, switch to indoor activities like yoga, stretching, or treadmill walking. Do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity daily, like walking or free-hand exercises, to keep your circulation flowing.
3. Eat for Your Heart
Winter often brings cravings for rich, oily comfort foods. While delicious, they can spike your cholesterol.
Choose seasonal vegetables, broccoli, spinach, carrots, cauliflower, nuts, and fatty fish rich in Omega-3.
Avoid excessive salt (which raises blood pressure) and fried street food.
4. Stay Hydrated
We often feel less thirsty in winter, leading to dehydration. Dehydration makes your blood thicker and “stickier,” which makes the heart work harder. Keep sipping warm water or herbal teas throughout the day.
5. Watch for “Warning Signs”
Cold weather can mask angina or chest pain. If you feel heaviness in your chest, jaw pain, or unusual breathlessness while walking, stop immediately and seek help.
Effective Heart Failure Treatment at Eskag Sanjeevani Hospital Kolkata
Diagnosis is the first step to recovery. Heart failure treatment has advanced significantly and focuses on managing symptoms and improving life expectancy. This is all because we have advanced treatment services.
At Eskag Sanjeevani Hospital, our treatment plans are personalised. We don’t just treat the condition; we treat the person, ensuring you understand every step of your recovery journey.
Cold temperatures cause your blood vessels to narrow (vasoconstriction). This increases the resistance to blood flow, forcing your heart to pump harder and raising your blood pressure.
It is a chronic condition where the heart cannot pump blood efficiently. While it cannot usually be “cured” completely, it can be effectively managed with medication, lifestyle changes, and treatments available at Eskag Sanjeevani, allowing patients to live active lives.
Avoid early mornings when the temperature is lowest. It is safer to exercise in the late morning or afternoon when the sun is out, or simply exercise indoors to avoid the chill.
Look for specialists with extensive experience and hospital affiliations. Eskag Sanjeevani Hospital hosts top experts like Dr. Santanu Guha and Dr. Manish Saha, making it a top choice for cardiac care.
Yes. The flu causes inflammation and fever, which stresses the heart. For patients with heart disease, getting a flu vaccine is an important part of heart care in winter.
Apart from chest pain, watch for cold sweats, nausea, lightheadedness, and pain radiating to the neck, jaw, or left arm. Do not ignore these signs—visit a cardiology hospital near me immediately.