Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke Rises to 30% in Cold Weather: Learn About Urgent Precautions and How to Protect Your Heart

Heart attack cases can rise by 30% on the coldest days; a cardiologist explains the body’s mechanisms, the silent symptoms, and how to protect your health in winter.

Estimates from the National Institute of Cardiology (INC) indicate that cases of myocardial infarction can rise by as much as 30% on cold days, while reports of stroke (CVA) show increases of up to 20%.

In Brazil, where cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death, accounting for approximately 400,000 deaths annually, it is important to be especially vigilant when cold fronts arrive, as they act as a trigger for severe cases, driven both by the body’s automatic physiological responses and by the population’s lack of awareness of pre-existing risk factors.

Why does cold weather worsen cardiovascular conditions?

From a biological standpoint, a drop in temperature triggers a defense mechanism against hypothermia. To maintain the temperature of vital organs, the nervous system causes vasoconstriction, which is the narrowing of peripheral blood vessels in the skin and extremities.

“When the temperature drops, the body triggers a survival response. This ‘constriction’ of the blood vessels increases blood viscosity, causing blood pressure to rise and forcing the heart to work faster and harder,” explains Dr. Egle Costa Oppi, Executive Medical Manager at Biolab Farmacêutica and a cardiologist at Hcor.

The situation is exacerbated by a behavioral factor that is common during the colder months: reduced water intake. “The combination of high blood pressure and thicker blood can cause a pre-existing fatty plaque to rupture. The clot that forms to ‘repair’ this rupture can block an artery in the heart, causing a heart attack, or an artery in the brain, causing a stroke,” warns the doctor.

Who is at greater risk?

Vulnerability during the winter hits a specific group particularly hard—one that often overlooks the danger: adults between the ages of 35 and 55. According to data from the Ministry of Health and the Brazilian Society of Cardiology, about 30% of Brazilian adults have high blood pressure, but about three in ten people diagnosed were not even aware they had the condition before experiencing an acute event. 

In addition, estimates indicate that nearly 70% of the population is unaware of their cholesterol levels. The cardiologist points out that many adults in this age group consider themselves healthy because they do not undergo routine screenings, but they have asymptomatic abnormalities. 

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