Ask the Experts Blog

When there's a real chill in the air, your risk of being hospitalized for heart failure rises. Cold weather has been shown to boost the risk of hospitalization for both heart failure and atrial fibrillation, a condition characterized by an irregular heart rhythm. While the exact reason is still unknown, it may be due to a number of different factors.

Some of those factors include:

• Cooler air which leads to a rise in blood pressure
• After-effects of the holiday season
• Environmental triggers
• Bodily fluid balances
• Changing levels of naturally occurring hormones
• Rise in infection risk
• Shifting air pollution environments
• Increase of salt intake
• Living a more sedentary lifestyle

Although, many of these factors are beyond our control, there are some steps you can take to lower your risk for heart disease year round.

Eliminate tobacco - According to the American Heart Association, eliminating smoking not only reduces the risk for coronary heart disease, but also reduces the risk for repeat heart attacks and death by heart disease by half.

Eat a heart-healthy diet – Three simple steps to improve your eating habits include limiting saturated fats and trans fats, reducing sodium (salt) intake, and managing calories.

Stay active - Try to include moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity for at least 40 minutes each day for at least 3 to 4 days per week, above usual activity, at work or home.

Manage your weight - Losing weight may help keep your arteries open so that your heart can get the oxygen-rich blood it needs.

Reduce stress in your life - Emotional stress can lead to high blood pressure, and is also linked to increased susceptibility to substance abuse and illness, less resistance to disease, and depression.

Are you at risk for heart disease?