February is American Heart Month. Make sure that you are taking care of your heart during these cold temperatures. Cold weather can be life threatening in individuals with coronary heart disease. Most heart attacks are caused from a condition called atherosclerosis (plaque). During cold months, your body takes steps in making sure that your body stays warm, but it may also raise your heart rate and blood pressure in the process. This reaction could cause a heart attack in individuals with atherosclerosis.
To reduce your risk of a cardiac event, make sure you avoid sudden exertion in the cold and wear appropriate clothing to help keep your body warm.
Lastly, Heart Month is a friendly reminder that heart disease is often preventable through our lifestyle choices alone. Simple steps such as daily physical activity combined with regular office visits to help control existing conditions can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease. Here at Destination Health, our focus is on preventive health because we understand the long-term health benefits of proper lifestyle choices.