What should the elderly pay attention to to protect cardiovascular health in cold weather?

When the ambient temperature drops, the body will form reactions to maintain a stable internal environment. Blood vessels under the skin and limbs will contract to minimize heat loss. As a result, blood circulation pressure in the body increases. This condition causes the heart to work harder to pump blood, thereby increasing heart rate and blood pressure. Although this is a normal reaction of the body, it can pose some risks to people with cardiovascular disease, especially when they are physically active, according to the health website Healthline (USA).

To protect the heart and reduce the risk of heart attack in cold weather, people need to apply the following methods:

Keep your body warm

Wearing layers of clothing is one of the most common ways to keep warm. Experts recommend that the first layer of clothing should be sweat-absorbent, the next layer should be made of insulating fabric, and the outer layer should be waterproof.

Keep your hands and feet warm

In addition to keeping the body warm, we also need to keep our hands and feet warm. Items such as gloves, thick socks and hats are essential. The face and nose can be covered with a scarf or mask.

Drink enough water

Cold weather often reduces thirst, causing us to drink less water and easily become dehydrated. Meanwhile, drinking enough water in cold weather will help keep the body warmer. When water enters the body, it helps regulate body temperature, helping to adapt better to cold weather.

Limit going out, especially the elderly with heart disease

When the air temperature drops too low, people should limit going out, especially people over 65 years old. They should stay indoors, keep their bodies warm and go out when the temperature warms up again.

Common symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain, a feeling of something squeezing the heart, difficulty breathing, pain radiating to the arms, neck, jaw or back, and irregular heartbeat. When these symptoms are detected, the patient needs to be taken to the hospital as soon as possible, according to Healthline .