Why does my chest hurt in the winter?

Chest Pains Could Be Serious Just as cold air constricts the lung muscles, it can cause arteries to constrict and raise your blood pressure. For someone with an undiagnosed heart condition, simply breathing in cold air can lead to chest pain. Even minimal exertion outdoors could trigger a heart attack, Savard said.

Does chest pain always mean heart problems?

A heart attack doesn’t always include chest pain. You may be having a heart attack if you have sudden chest pain along with any of the following symptoms: shortness of breath. nausea.

Can there be chest pain due to cold?

Acute bronchitis It’s sometimes referred to as a chest cold. Irritation of your bronchial tubes can cause repeated bouts of coughing, which can lead to chest discomfort. Acute bronchitis is temporary, with symptoms improving in about a week, although a cough may last up to several weeks.

Does cold weather affect the heart?

Cold weather can put a lot of stress on the body and affect your heart in a number of ways. Lower temperatures can cause blood vessels to narrow. This means that your heart must work harder to move blood throughout the body. Cold weather can also affect your heart by increasing your blood pressure and heart rate.

Is cold weather bad for heart disease?

Cold temperatures cause physiological stress on anyone. If you have heart disease, cold temperatures can be dangerous or even life-threatening.

What helps chest pain from cold weather?

Sleep with your head propped up on several pillows to make breathing easier and prevent mucus from accumulating in your chest overnight. Take a hot shower and breathe in the steam to ease congestion. Try an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to ease body aches and reduce fever.

How can I keep my heart healthy in winter?

Tips to Manage Heart Health in the Cold

1. Dress for the weather. Wear layers and especially wear hats, gloves and heavy socks.
2. Come inside often. Give yourself breaks to warm up if you’re spending time outside in the cold.
3. Avoid excess alcohol.
4. Do not shovel for long periods.
5. Wash your hands frequently.
6. Get help.

Is heart failure worse in winter?

The cold weather takes away your body heat so your heart needs to work harder to keep you warm. Your blood vessels will narrow so your heart can focus on pumping blood to your brain and other major organs. Cold temperatures can cause: your heart to pump faster.

Are heart attacks more common in winter?

DALLAS, Dec. 7, 2021 — Scientific research over time has shown an uptick in cardiac events during the winter holiday season, and more people die from heart attacks between December 25th and January 1st than at any other time of the year.

Is it common to have chest pain in the winter?

These features are less common in other sources of chest pain, however the features of the pain alone are not sufficiently diagnostic. Historically, chest pain due to heart issues has occurred during winter, and often while shoveling snow in the morning.

Can chest pain be caused by something besides a heart attack?

It’s a problem because chest pain can stem from dozens of conditions besides heart attack, from pancreatitis to pneumonia to panic attack, reports the May 2010 issue of the Harvard Heart Letter. Doctors use several pieces of information to determine who is, and who isn’t, having a heart attack.

Why does my heart hurt more in the winter season?

Cold weather causes the arteries to tighten, slowing blood flow and reducing the amount of oxygen that reaches the heart. The body is also overexerting itself as it needs to work harder to obtain oxygen and stay warm. Cold is also causes of chest pain in winter season.

Why does my chest hurt when shoveling snow?

Historically, chest pain due to heart issues has occurred during winter, and often while shoveling snow Regardless of the season, chest pain can always occur from several causes. It is important to distinguish between chest pain arising from the heart, versus pain arising from the chest wall (musculoskeletal, costochondritis) or lung (pleuritic).