CLEVELAND — Doctors are sending a warning about the extreme cold and cardiovascular death.
A recent study looking at 27 countries, that's being called one of the largest international datasets on the matter, showed a connection between extreme temperatures and increased risk of death from any cardiovascular cause.
"The whole circulatory system kind of has to adapt to the cold by cutting blood supply to the periphery and that can put more strain on the heart," Dr. James Cireddu, cardiologist with University Hospitals' Harrington Heart and Vascular Institute, said. "There's also stress-related hormones that are released."
Cireddu explains that if you have heart problems, you should limit your time outside in the extreme cold, which is considered below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the CDC, about 6.2 million Americans are currently experiencing heart failure, and the study showed frigid temps increase the risk of dying by 37% for that population.
"When you're not conditioned for that kind of cold and you just jump out into it, there's just a lot of stress on your body,"Cireddu noted. "And now we're seeing increasing data that it's real, the increased causes for death during that kind of environment."
Even if you don't have any known cardiovascular issues, Cireddu says you should stay in tune with your body.
"Even people who have never been known to have heart disease, it seems like the stress of very hot temperatures and very cold temperatures is stressing the body and the heart really has to absorb that extra stress," he added. "Some people don't have symptoms, but they're kind of on the verge of having problems and really not being prepared, and going out in to these cold temperatures for any prolonged period can kind of push you over into an emergency of worst-case scenarios, something potentially life-threatening."
He says heart attacks and heart disease can sometimes have mild symptoms, with not all cases exhibiting crushing chest pain.
"Don't wait it out and see if it gets better. If you're starting to get any really concerning symptoms — whether its chest pain, shortness of breath, heart racing, dizziness, almost passing out, nauseousness and diaphoresis, or sweating — come back in, warm up as soon as possible, and if it's not getting better quickly, call EMS or have somebody take you to the emergency room to have someone check you out as soon as possible, because time loss is often heart muscle loss."