Many people in New York are tired of the frigid temperatures. But not only is the weather uncomfortable, it also causes health issues. One such issue is the common cold and flu. However it can also cause dangerous health problems that people are unaware of.
Time magazine reports on the link between cold weather and strokes.
Cold weather can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. In warm weather the human body is warmer and blood is thinner thus making it easier for the blood to flow through arteries and other areas of the body. But in cold weather the blood is thicker; thus increasing the chances of issues such as strokes and heart attacks.
A new study shows that there is a link between cold weather and strokes. “Major changes in temperature and humidity could be linked to more hospitalizations from stroke, researchers say. In their study, which was presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference in San Diego, the researchers also found that colder temperatures were linked to more hospital stroke deaths. With every 1°F increase in temperature, there was a 0.86% decrease in likelihood of being admitted to a hospital for a stroke, and a 1.1% decrease in dying from a stroke,” according to Time.
The researchers looked at more than one hundred thousand people who experienced strokes before coming to these conclusions. Time explains the link found between strokes and cold weather, “Our blood vessels constrict in cold weather and this can raise blood pressure and add stress to the body, which makes blood more likely to clot. High humidity can also cause dehydration, which leads to an increased risk for clotting and stress.”
