Super low temperatures and cold weather not only make it uncomfortable for your surroundings but also saps energy levels and causes many health complications
New Delhi: North India is reeling under an intense cold wave spell which has made winter unbearable. Super low temperatures and cold weather not only make it uncomfortable for your surroundings but also saps energy levels and causes many health complications, including heart issues like a stroke or heart attack.
According to experts, many serious and dangerous health issues can result from prolonged exposure to cold. When exposed to recurrent cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced, working harder to cope with a freezing environment. And so, the vessels that supply blood to various parts of the body shrink, increasing blood pressure.
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How does your body respond to cold?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, extreme drops in temperatures can pose several health risks of various degrees, depending on air and body temperature, along with how much skin is exposed and whether your skin is dry or moist.
A cold wave can also heighten respiratory symptoms in people suffering from asthma, COPD, and other lung disorders.
Five ways cold affects your health include:
Heart problems
Experts say cold weather adds a significant amount of strain to your cardiovascular system, making your heart work harder, which can put you at greater risk of a heart attack.
However, when your blood vessels constrict, your blood pressure increases making your heart work harder to pump blood through the constricted blood vessels in the body. So, if you have a healthy cardiovascular system, this blood vessel constriction would not be much of a problem. But if you have an issue, it may lead to a blockage in the artery, which could cause a heart attack.
Diabetes
Experts say if you feel dizzy or weak when you come back inside, you must immediately check your blood sugar. If you are using insulin and you keep it in the car, bring it inside so the medication doesn’t freeze.
Most diabetic people suffering from neuropathy are unaware of their nerve functions and cannot feel the difference between cold and hot water, which can lead to burn injury. Also, during winter, many diabetic patients tend to lose feeling in their toes and feet due to vascular changes.
Arthritis
Arthritis pain becomes worse in cold weather due to changes in barometric pressure that impact the joints negatively.
People suffer from severe pain and inflammation as the pressure begins to fluctuate expanding and contracting the tissues. According to the Arthritis Foundation, frigid temperatures can heighten pain sensitivity, slow blood circulation, and cause muscle spasms.
Asthma and COPD
According to experts, in cold weather, your body needs more oxygen, so your breathing speeds up. Often, you breathe through your mouth to take in more air. While your nose has blood vessels that warm and humidify the air before it reaches your lungs, air that travels directly through your mouth remains cold and dry.
Psychological stress
Experts say extreme cold weather increases the risk of mental distress, even in those with no prior mental ill health. The risk triples for those previously on the borderline of severe mental distress.
