Research: Cold Weather And Strong Wind Trigger Heart Attack

JAKARTA - The weather not only affects mood and mild physical conditions, but can also increase the risk of a heart attack. Recent research published in JAMA Cardiology found heart attacks to be more likely when temperatures drop, strong winds blowing, minimal sunlight, and low air pressure.

"The main findings are an increase in heart attacks during cold weather, strong winds, low solar duration, and low atmospheric pressure," explains Dr. David Erlinge, co-author of the study and head of the Department of Kardiology at Lund University, Sweden, quoted from the CNN page.

The study analyzed all cases of heart attacks in Sweden and matched them to weather data from official stations. The results show that the risk of a heart attack increases as the minimum temperature reaches zero degrees Celsius (32 degF). Meanwhile, the risk decreases as the temperature rises above 34$C.

"When the minimum temperature drops from +20$C to 0$C (68$F to 32$F), the risk of a heart attack increases by 14%," he said.

This study involved 274,029 patients and showed that any minimum temperature increase of 7.4$C could reduce the risk of a heart attack by 2.8%, "explained Erlinge.

The exact mechanism behind this increased risk is not yet entirely clear. However, Dr. Ivor Benjamin, President of the American Heart Association, who was not involved in this study, stressed, "Association does not necessarily mean causality. Currently they can only speculate about mechanisms that may contribute to the increasing number of heart attacks."

Several factors that are suspected to play a role include influenza exposure, severe physical activity in cold weather, or additional stress that burdens the heart. Benjamin suggests simple preventive measures.

Stay indoors or reduce physical activity during cold weather to reduce the risk of a heart attack. Don't forget to check the condition of your loved ones, especially those who live alone," said Benjamin.

Hong Chen, a research scientist from Health Canada, added an important perspective on the duration of cold exposure.

There is a lot of literature that shows a long-term effect of cold temperature on cardiovascular health, which remains felt up to 23 weeks after exposure. Observation of stronger relationships between moderate cold temperatures and myocard infarction suggests that although climate change will bring more days of heat, the effect of cold temperatures on public health is likely to remain in the future." he explained.

This study is one of the largest studies highlighting the relationship between low air temperature and the risk of a heart attack, providing important insights to the public about how weather can affect heart health.