Why Angina Cases Spike in Winter: The Hidden Heart Risk You Must Know

12/10/2025

It's likely that you've heard that shoveling snow increases your chance of having a heart attack. Even if you're not scraping snow off your car or cleaning a snow-covered driveway, dropping temperatures might raise your risk of having a heart attack. What is the reality behind the most talked-about issue of increased heart risk throughout the winter? Here's what you should know and how to spot heart attack symptoms at any time of year.

Why do Angina Cases in Winters Spike?

Why does Angina increase in Winter? The answer lies in the fact that the body, particularly the heart, may be more stressed in cold temperatures. Stress is a physiological reaction to outside stimuli. According to a study, a change in the force that the body's blood vessels use to circulate blood is primarily responsible for the rise in blood pressure in cold temperatures. Your blood vessels contract to stop heat loss when exposed to cold, which increases heart strain.

Although physical exercise helps in reducing the risk of high blood pressure and other heart issues, a sudden surge in blood pressure, particularly during strenuous physical activity, can be detrimental to your heart.

How to Recognise Angina Symptoms in Cold Weather?

Squeezing, pressure, heaviness, tightness, or pain in the chest are common symptoms of angina. It might feel like a heavy load resting on the chest. Angina can be periodic pain that goes away with therapy, or it might be a new problem that needs to be examined by a medical specialist.

Angina is not rare. However, some people might not be able to distinguish it from other forms of chest discomfort, such as heartburn. Seek immediate medical attention if you have unexplained chest discomfort.

How to Prevent Angina in Winters?

People with heart disease may be more susceptible to angina episodes due to colder temperatures. These seven suggestions can help you stay healthy during the winter:

Prevention Tip	Description
1. Prevent the infections	People with cardiac issues are more susceptible to serious disease when they get the flu. A heart attack following the flu is more likely to occur even in those without a history of heart disease. Getting vaccinated against the flu lowers your risk of illness and hospitalization. You may also prevent disease by eating a nutritious diet, exercising, and washing your hands often.
2. Stay physically active	It's challenging to maintain a regular exercise schedule when it's raining, chilly, and dark. During the winter, it might be simple to come up with reasons not to work out. But in the winter, exercise is as vital to your heart and mental well-being as it is throughout the year.
3. Eat healthy	We crave hot, filling meals that keep us warm during cold weather. This is due to a valid cause. One approach to keep our immune systems robust against diseases is to stay warm. In the cold, hot meals are often soothing. However, it's crucial to keep selecting heart-healthy meals when we turn to food for solace throughout the winter. The first step in preparing your winter meals is to use a lot of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Pick from colorful root vegetables like carrots, kumara, pumpkin, and parsnip; Brassicas like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage; and dark leafy greens like kale, silverbeet, and leeks. Stews and soups are great winter meals that may satisfy all of your heart-healthy requirements.
4. Improve your sleep routine	Sound sleep is necessary for a sound body in physical as well as mental aspects. Heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke are just a few of the illnesses that have been connected to sleep deprivation. Our body requires seven to nine hours of sleep per night. You can establish a regular nighttime routine and develop good sleeping habits by making a few small adjustments.
5. Reduce your stress	Stress may impact us throughout the year, even in the winter. Many of our tried-and-true stress-reduction strategies, such as eating well and exercising, are forgotten when seasons and routines change. Throughout the winter, new stressors may arise, such as increased energy costs to heat the home, fatigue, illness, or a depressed mood due to the shorter and darker days. Spending some time figuring out what's stressing you out is usually beneficial. You can cope with the changes you may encounter in the winter by engaging in mind-calming and relaxing activities.
6. Stay connected	Our mental, emotional, and physical health can all be positively impacted by socialising. Over the winter months, it’s crucial to maintain contact with friends, family, neighbours, and other people living in your community. Try strengthening your bonds with social interactions.
7. Stay warm	Although it may seem obvious, staying warm is crucial both at home and when you're out and about, especially if you already have a heart issue. Tips for staying warm include sealing up any gaps in the insulation and maintaining an inside temperature of at least 18 degrees. When you're indoors, maintain an active lifestyle by getting up every hour. Put on layers! Warm air is better trapped in layers of lighter clothes than in a single, heavy layer. To keep the heat in, wear gloves, a scarf, and a cap. To keep your bed warm, use an electric blanket, a hot water bottle, or more blankets. To keep your home warm over the winter, find out if you qualify for any additional financial assistance for heating.

Conclusion

Keep an eye on your health throughout the winter because it may be a difficult period both psychologically and physically. Start or modify your little daily routines to promote heart health by implementing our advice as motivation. Don't forget to watch out for other people. Every little bit of assistance is beneficial and may greatly improve the comfort level during the chilly winter months.

For personalised advice, consult the top cardiologists in Jaipur at Eternal Hospital today. Book your consultation now!

FAQs

Q1: What is the "7-second trick" for heart attack prevention?
A: To relax the nervous system and lessen the strain on the heart, some experts advise controlled deep breathing that involves a 7-second inhalation and a longer expiration.

Q2: Which five strategies can help in preventing a heart attack?
A: Routine exercise, a healthy diet, quitting smoking, reducing stress, and managing blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol levels.

Q3: How can I de-stress to prevent a heart attack?
A: To reduce stress, take deep breaths, practice meditation, or stretch gently. Maintaining composure lowers heart rate and relieves heart strain.