The Dangers of Cold Weather for Heart Patients
The German Association of Nuclear Medicine Specialists has warned of the dangers of cold weather for heart patients. In patients with coronary artery disease, it can lead to increased narrowing of the arteries, forcing the heart to work harder.
The Berlin-based association explained that shortness of breath, chest pain, or tightness can indicate impaired blood flow or strain on the heart muscle, which, in the worst cases, can lead to a heart attack or sudden death. In such cases, a specialist should be consulted immediately. The doctor can check for these disturbances by examining the heart muscle's function and its blood and oxygen supply through myocardial perfusion imaging, also known as scintigraphy.
If this imaging does not reveal any disturbance in the patient's blood flow, a heart attack can then be reasonably ruled out.