Link Found Between Winter and Heart Deaths

A new study by researchers from the Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen at the German Research Center for Environmental Health in Neuherberg has turned up findings that might provide an explanation to the increase in number deaths due to cardiovascular-related deaths during winter. According to the study, cold air temperature sets off inflammation in the body, which causes the mortalities.

Cold temperatures are known to increase blood pressure and put excessive stress on the heart. This too may help explain the spike in rates of sudden cardiac death during colder months. Stress due to cold might also put into motion processes that thicken blood and increase its clotting ability, which might lead to cardiac events.

The study conducted by Dr. Alexandra Schneider and colleagues looked at 1,003 adults, all with a history of heart attack and living in centres located across a broad range of climate zones. An analysis of 5,813 blood samples collected from all participants showed a marked increased in blood levels of two markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein, or CRP, an interleukin-6) with just 5 consecutive days of low temperatures. On the other hand, just 3 consecutive days of cold temperatures brought about an increase in levels of the inflammatory marker fibrinogen.

The researchers found that a 10-degree Celsius drop in the 5-day-average of air temperature prior to their taking the blood sample corresponded with a 4 percent hike in CRP and a 3.3 percent increase in interleukin-6. Just 3 days later, levels of fibrinogen were also found to have increased by 1.3 percent.

According to the researchers, their findings suggest another mechanism through which cold weather increases the chances of cardiovascular mortality. Reporting their study in the May issue of Epidemiology, the researchers said, “In susceptible patients, this might lead to an additional risk for cardiovascular events.” Their finding, they add, “suggests a biologic mechanism” for the observed seasonal variation in death from heart disease and stroke in the elderly.

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