Low temperatures increase vascular resistance and blood pressure while simultaneously promoting coronary artery spasm. In addition, the cold causes disturbances in the hemostatic mechanisms favoring the formation of clots. It seems, however, that the cold is not the only mechanism for the increase in adverse cardiovascular events, because the researchers found that this increase is greater during the holiday season. Tips for everyone, but especially for people with known heart disease:
1. Avoiding eating foods rich in fat and salt
2. Avoiding eating large amounts of food
3. Avoiding consumption of large amounts of alcohol and illegal substances
4. Avoiding smoking and places where there is a large concentration of smoke, passive smoking is just as harmful
5. Avoiding anger and intense emotional stress with the company of dear friends and relatives
6. Avoiding intense physical fatigue and prolonged insomnia
7. Avoiding circulation and physical exertion during severe cold
8. Not stopping the daily medication
9. Care to have sufficient quantities of medicines to cover the holiday period, where there is difficulty in accessing doctors and pharmacies
10. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, extreme tiredness, dizziness or fainting.
11. Finally, it is essential that older people and people with known heart disease get their annual vaccine as soon as it is available.
