We often think of heart attacks as coming out of the blue, but they are quite predictable.  Doctors make heart-risk predictions all the time, of course, by looking at a patient’s blood pressure, cholesterol level, weight, and other factors. 

But there is another way to predict when heart attack numbers will rise: Just check the calendar, a top cardiologist says.
 
“When winter comes, doctors who live in places that are cold know that the heart attack tally is about to climb,” Dr. Chauncey Crandall, tells Newsmax Health.    

Statistics show that heart attacks are 50 percent more likely to occur in the winter months than during the summer, he says.

“Most people assume that all of this added risk has to do with shoveling snow, and that’s true to a degree. But winter also brings with it a host of other lesser known dangers as well,” notes Dr. Crandall, chief of the cardiac transplant program at the world-renowned Palm Beach Cardiovascular Clinic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

A study done by a team of Swiss researchers finds that the number of heart attacks goes as the cold weather sets and, the lower the temperature, the higher that number climbs. Not only that, but this team also published a study showing that winter heart attacks are more severe, he says.

“But it’s not only heart attack; the risk of stroke also increases in the winter as well,” says Dr. Crandall, who points to studies that find that stroke risk tends to increase in winter, and decrease in summer, following much the same pattern as heart attack. 

“Cold weather makes the blood vessels narrow, and that plays a role in blood clots, which cause both heart attack and stroke,” he notes.

In addition, that traditional winter weather hazard – snow shoveling – plays a key role in raising risk as well, warns Dr. Crandall, author of the Heart Health Report.

“Of all the hazards, which include broken limbs due to winter accidents, the biggest cause of heart-related death is clearly shoveling snow. One study that analyzed 17 years of emergency room visits found that an average of 1,647 deaths related to snow shoveling occur in the U.S. each year, and all of them are cardiac related, he adds.

Dr. Crandall recommends these 3 steps to safeguard your heart against winter weather:

1. Guard against accidental hypothermia, the condition that occurs when your body can’t produce enough internal warmth. Elderly people are especially at risk for this condition, which can be fatal. Symptoms include lack of coordination, mental confusion, slowed reactions, shivering and sleepiness.
2. Stay inside if it’s cold and windy. Wind is especially dangerous, because it removes the layer of heated air from around your body. At 30 degrees Fahrenheit in a 30-mile per hour wind, the cooling effect is equal to 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. To keep warm, wear layers of clothing. This traps air between layers, forming a protective insulation. Also, wear a hat and ear coverings.  Keep your hands and feet warm, too, as they tend to lose heat rapidly.

People who have heart problems should not shovel snow under any circumstances, says Dr. Crandall.  But for others who say they must, here are his tips:

• Get your doctor’s okay beforehand if you are middle-aged or older, or if you have a medical condition or you do not exercise regularly.
• Use a small shovel or snow thrower. The act of lifting heavy snow can raise blood pressure, so it’s safer to lift in small amounts, or, if possible, simply push the snow.
• Take frequent breaks to avoid overly stressing your heart.
• Don’t eat a big meal before or soon after shoveling. Digestion adds to your heart’s workload.
• Do not drink alcohol before or immediately after shoveling. Alcohol can increase your sense of warmth, and you may misjudge the cold temperatures.
• Call 911 immediately if you become short of breath, perceive chest pain, feel faint, or experience any other symptoms that could be warning signs of a heart attack.