Numerous studies show that the risk of a heart attack in men increases by as much as 16 percent in winter. Most heart attacks are due to snow removal activities. The internist Dr. Eva Ornella of the Hospital of the Brothers of Charity in St. Veit an der Glan explains why.
According to a Swedish study, there is a link between the weather and a significantly increased incidence of snow shoveling heart attacks for men! It is interesting that this could not be proven for women. On the one hand, the reason may be that men are, quite stereotypically, simply reaching for the shovel more often. Another important reason, however, is that myocardial infarction presents differently in women, often with a so-called atypical clinical picture.
“Instead of the typical chest pain that radiates to the left arm, women often complain of pain in the upper abdomen or jaw. Sometimes there are completely nonspecific symptoms such as cold sweats, nausea, vomiting or general malaise,” says Dr. Eva Ornella, a specialist in the Internal Medicine Department at Brothers of Charity Hospital, describes the symptoms. Unfortunately, this still leads to misinterpretations. In the worst case, such a heart attack can even be overlooked.
Don’t underestimate snowplows
“Due to physical exertion, oxygen consumption also increases,” explains the internist. Amazingly, the risk is even higher when the temperature is just below freezing. Then the snow is slushier and heavier and it shovels even harder. The effort of shoveling snow is rarely on the radar of many patients admitted to St. Veit Hospital as the trigger for “the heart event,” as the medical jargon likes to call it.
Start slowly and take breaks
The weather is currently a challenge for heart patients. The physical exertion of shoveling snow combined with breathing cold air constricts the skin vessels and increases the workload on the heart. But not only the coronary arteries are affected. The other vessels in our body also narrow, the heart has to pump more and the blood pressure rises. In people with risk factors, these can already be narrowed by atherosclerotic plaques.
“The insufficient supply of oxygen to the heart muscle can lead to symptoms of angina pectoris and, in the worst case, there is a risk of a heart attack,” Ornella explains. The Brothers of Mercy hospital in St. Veit/Glan treats about 130 people suspected of having a heart attack every year. “The most important thing is to start slowly and take breaks.”
Burning and tightness in the chest
Typical symptoms of this disease are, for example, a feeling of pressure or tightness in the chest or a burning sensation in the heart area, which sometimes radiates to the shoulder. “If you get chest pain, stop immediately and go to the hospital. Any chest pain should be clarified,” advises the St. Veit physician.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
