Letter To Editor: Why Winter Is Hard On The Kashmiri Heart

Each winter, as the air turns sharp and mornings feel heavier, hospitals brace for a familiar rise in emergencies.

Heart attacks, strokes, sudden cardiac deaths and hospital admissions for heart disease all increase during the colder months.

This pattern shows up year after year across countries and climates. It is not a coincidence and it is not just about discomfort.

Cold weather places real stress on the human heart.

Research from around the world confirms this seasonal link. Studies following millions of people show that blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood clotting activity tend to rise in winter. Even the inner lining of blood vessels functions less smoothly.

Together, these changes raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

One large analysis covering 15 countries found that many of the body's key cardiovascular risk factors peak during the coldest months.

Cold spells can act as a trigger on their own. Recent research presented at a major cardiology meeting showed that short exposure to low temperatures increases the risk of a heart attack within the following few days.

Other studies suggest that heart attack rates may be up to one third higher in winter, while strokes can rise sharply during sudden drops in temperature.

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