歐洲心臟學會今年9月公布的研究結果顯示，每年冬季心臟病的發病率都會達到高峰。箇中原因如下：
- 寒冷天氣容易引致血管收縮、血壓升高及心率加快，誘使心臟病發。
- 氣溫驟降容易引起呼吸道及其他疾病發作，增加心臟負擔。
- 冬季食量增多，活動減少，容易令體重上升，加劇心臟病發風險。
冬季晨運小心適得其反
不少心臟病患者為增強抵抗力，堅持清晨運動。然而，冬季室內外溫差的刺激可加重心臟負擔，容易誘發心絞痛和心律失常，嚴重甚至猝死。因此患者在冬季應避免於日出前或天氣寒冷時到室外進行體力活動。
注意寒冬飲食習慣
火鍋是不少人冬季至愛，不過，醬料和湯底大都含很高鹽分（鈉），會令血壓在短時間內上升。豬骨或連皮烹煮的雞、鴨鍋，所含的脂肪和熱量非常高，當中的飽和脂肪更會增加身體壞膽固醇的比例，並加促脂肪斑塊積聚在血管內壁，阻塞血管通道，導致心絞痛或心臟病發。
Heart disease peaks in winter, according to a research presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress this September. The high rate of heart attacks could be attributed to:
• Cold weather, which may make vasoconstriction, increased blood pressure, and a fast heart rate easier, inducing a heart attack.
• The drop in temperature will cause the onset of respiratory and other diseases, hence increasing the burden on the heart.
• Appetites tend to increase in cold weather and lead to weight gain, which also increases the risk of heart attack.
Better Plans for Winter Workout
Many heart patients exercise early in the morning to enhance resistance against diseases. However, the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperature can add burden to the heart, causing angina, arrhythmia and sudden death. Therefore, patients should avoid outdoor exercise before sunrise and in very cold weather.
Eat Smart in Winter
Hot pot meals are many people’s favorite in winter. However, the sodium and cholesterol content in hot pot meals, especially those with soup base made with meat bones or chicken and duck with skin, far exceeds the recommended daily intake. This may cause the blood pressure to rise rapidly in a short time. Also, the high saturated fats will increase the proportion of bad cholesterol in the body. The lumen of blood vessels will thus be narrowed or blocked, resulting in heart attacks.
