Doctor warns of cold weather and heart problems ahead of predicted snowfall

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Storm Track 8 has predicted that central Indiana will see a couple inches of snowfall over the weekend. 

A local doctor with Indiana University has a warning about the dangers of extreme cold and heart problems.

The doctor said she sees an increase in heart related illnesses in as little as two days after a major snowfall.

“During cold weather, make sure you stay warm and avoid letting your body get too cold. So you want to dress in layers, you always want to wear a hat and when you’re doing strenuous activities like shoveling snow, you really want to take frequent breaks,” said Cardiologist Noel Dasgupta.

Dr. Dasgupta said any temperature extreme can lead to increase in stress hormones, which lead to elevations in heart rate and blood pressure which can put you at risk for heart attacks.

“This can be the time of year when heart disease is first diagnosed because you may have pre-existing heart conditions that you don’t know about and a little extra stress on your heart from the cold weather could put you at first for heart attack and this could be your first event,” she added.

Warning signs of a heart attack include chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting.

“Sometimes it’s hard to know if you’re having a cardiac event or if you’re just over exerting yourself but what we recommend is once you feel something that doesn’t feel right, you always want to take that seriously,” she added.

More information on cold weather and heart issues can be found here.