Blood Pressure: The Cold Facts

Freezing temperatures can give you bigger health problems than catching the sniffles.

By Nancy Coveney

From Reader's Digest

Change Text Size

Change Text Size
|
Bookmark

Bookmark

Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
TwitThis
|
Print
|
E-Mail

Cold weather may cause dangerous changes in blood pressure, say Veterans Affairs researchers. Their study of 443,632 veterans with high blood pressure found that we're more likely to have high readings during colder months, probably because of winter weight gain and inactivity. Author Ross Fletcher, MD, advises, "People who are borderline, with a reading of 130/80 in the summer, should be checked again in winter."

What blood pressure should you aim for? For heart health, experts agree: in general, the lower, the better. A group of researchers at Cleveland Clinic found that only patients who got their pressure below 120/80 showed signs of reversal of coronary disease. Those with higher numbers saw no change or an increase in arterial plaque.

From Reader's Digest - February 2008

Should Everyone Read This? Yes! I vote for this story

13 More Things Your Plumber Won't Tell You
Plumbers around the country give us the scoop on how to find a good plumber, lower your water bill, and save money on repairs.
50 Funniest Jokes
Laugh more, live longer with the funniest jokes ever.
How to Install Granite Tile Kitchen Countertops
Granite tile gives you the appearance of a solid-stone slab at one-third the cost. We'll show you the techniques for a first-rate job.
How to Finish a Basement: Framing and Insulating
How to frame a basement and install insulation.
The Ultimate Sex Guide for Newlyweds
Every married couple faces concerns that can cool the hottest love life. Here's how to keep sex fun and fulfilling.

Are You a Ticking Time Bomb?
Every year, more than 850,000 Americans have a heart attack, and for about half of them, the first symptom is death.
10 Easy Steps to a Healthier Heart
Keep your heart healthy and reduce your heart attack risk with these simple tips.
Warning Signs of Heart Disease
Important symptoms to watch out for.
Exercise Your Heart Attack Risk Away
A healthier heart is as simple as a daily walk.
Heart-Healthy Advice You Need
Whether you're at high risk for heart trouble or you're trying to control early-stage heart disease, here are some simple lifestyle changes you can make.
Heart Disease Risk Factors You Can Change
Reduce the possibility of a heart attack with lifestyle modifications.

Get It Through E-mail

Get info and tips you can really use!
Sign up to receive the This Week@RD newsletter.

See a Sample
Choose from all our newsletters
Sign up for our RSS feeds instead

See All Make It Matter

Refresh Topic List

Blood Pressure: The Cold Facts

Freezing temperatures can give you bigger health problems than catching the sniffles.

From Reader's Digest - February 2008

Digg

Reader's Digest Around the World