Cases of heart attacks, strokes up due to cold weather

MANILA, Philippines - Cases of heart attacks and strokes increased in the past two months due to the cold weather, an official of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) said yesterday.

PCP vice president Anthony Leachon said cardiologists like him saw an increase in cases in hospitals because the “cold weather increases the risks to development of strokes and heart attacks” and increases “predisposition to development of respiratory infections, both viral and bacteria.”

Leachon said this is also happening in other countries experiencing lowering of temperature.

“There was a study in private hospitals that admissions increased during December and January. In the United States, there’s a 20-year-old study about this and this is constant across the globe. Viral epidemics too are more common now,” he said.

Leachon warned that the cold weather could lead to “increased vascular resistance, coronary spasm, blood pressure and hemostastasis,” a condition wherein blood is present outside of the blood vessels or body.

He said it is important to drink warm water and bathe in lukewarm water to prevent the constriction of blood vessels, which triggers heart attacks and stroke.

He also advised the public to have a healthy diet, exercise regularly, avoid smoking and have enough sleep to strengthen immunity.

“Healthy lifestyle, proper clothing and proper hygienic measures should be done. We need to have a culture of preventive health and wellness. We need to empower every Filipino to be informed and healthy even in the absence of the doctor,” he added.