A cardiologist warned about the danger of cold weather for hypertensive patients

MOSCOW, October 7 - RIA Novosti. After a sharp cold snap, blood pressure may increase, especially in those who already have hypertension or other cardiovascular diseases, said Igor Tsupko, a general practitioner, cardiologist, geriatrician, candidate of medical sciences, and expert on the Doctor TV channel.

“In cold weather, blood pressure levels may be higher than in summer. Studies with daily monitoring have also shown a connection between lower temperatures and higher average blood pressure values,” Tsupko said in an interview with Gazeta.Ru.

According to him, when the temperature drops, the body tries to reduce heat loss by constricting peripheral blood vessels.

This primarily applies to patients with an already high cardiovascular risk: those who have had a heart attack or stroke, those with heart failure, diabetes or reduced kidney function, as well as those with hypertension, the doctor said.

According to him, blood pressure changes throughout the day, so one measurement is not enough.

“If, with the onset of cold weather, the indicators begin to differ from the usual, it is more useful to keep home notes for several days and then show them to the doctor. You should not increase the dose of the drug on your own or add a new medicine,” the doctor warned.