Status: 16.01.2024, 13:52 PM
By: Jasmina Deshmeh
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Sudden drops in temperature affect the body: in healthy people, on well-being, people with certain pre-existing conditions are even threatened with serious consequences.
Everyone knows it: When it's frosty and fresh outside, we quickly get cold hands and feet and the tip of our nose also becomes cool and even hurts. What is a vital protective mechanism of the body can be dangerous for people with certain pre-existing conditions. This is because the thermoregulation of the organism can lead to circulatory disorders and blood clots. In the worst case, there is even a risk of a stroke.
Increased risk of stroke due to pre-existing conditions
Our body has to adapt to the environment again and again in order to maintain its optimal temperature of 37 degrees. When it's freezing cold outside, it sets various mechanisms in motion: the blood vessels contract, the skin is less supplied with blood and blood pressure rises. This ensures that as much heat as possible remains inside the body and that vital organs such as the brain, heart, liver and kidneys continue to be supplied.
People with certain pre-existing conditions have a particularly high risk of suffering a stroke during a cold snap. (Symbolic image) © Panthermedia/Imago
This thermoregulation of the body is useful and vital. However, in the case of certain pre-existing conditions, it can be dangerous. This is especially true for people with diabetes, elevated blood lipid levels and high blood pressure, as the German Stroke Aid informs. If the blood vessels are already narrowed due to illness, for example due to calcified arteries, circulatory disorders and blood clots can occur. If these clots block vessels in the brain, there is a risk of a stroke. If blood vessels of the heart are narrowed or completely blocked, a heart attack occurs.
Even a drop in temperature of three degrees is dangerous
Particular care should be taken during rapid changes in the weather. For example, a study by the University of Jena showed that even a rapid drop in temperature of three degrees Celsius within 24 hours increases the probability of stroke by eleven percent. Those who belong to the risk group due to pre-existing conditions even have up to a 30 percent higher risk of stroke. For the study, the head of the study, Dr. Florian Rakers, compared weather data with patient records from the University Hospital Jena.
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In addition to diabetics, patients with high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, the following risk groups in particular seemed to react sensitively to weather changes, according to study data:
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- People with cardiac arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation)
- People who had already suffered a previous heart attack
- Smoker
- People over 60
- overweight people
- Patients with sedentary lifestyle
In addition to temperature, the researchers found two other factors that increase the risk of stroke: a rapid change in humidity and rapid changes in air pressure. They led to a fourfold higher risk of stroke in people with cardiovascular disease.
Caution should also be exercised in the case of pre-existing lung diseases
But the cold is not only dangerous for stroke patients and people with pre-existing heart diseases. The cold can also be problematic in lung diseases such as asthma or COPD, in which the airways are already narrowed due to illness. This is because cold air causes the bronchi to contract even more. Those affected get coughing fits or even shortness of breath, warns the German Allergy and Asthma Association (DAAB). By the way, the same applies to fog, which can exacerbate respiratory problems.
Pay attention to warning signs of a stroke in the cold
In any case, cold means stress for the body, which puts a strain on the cardiovascular system. If you have pre-existing conditions, you should therefore pay attention to warning signs such as numbness in the arms and legs, dizziness and headaches, which can indicate a stroke. According to the Professional Association of German Internists (BDI), further information includes:
- Symptoms of paralysis (one-sided facial paralysis) and weakness
- Visual disturbances and speech disorders
- Disturbances of equilibrium
- Falls
- Disorientation
- Disorders of consciousness
A stroke is always a life-threatening emergency and must be treated by an emergency doctor (112) or by specialists in hospital (in a so-called stroke unit). This is because rapid treatment determines the extent of the damage to the brain and thus the chances of survival and rehabilitation.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It is in no way a substitute for a visit to the doctor. Individual questions about clinical pictures may not be answered by our editorial team.