Cold weather

[Cherrelleford]

Hello fellow hearties.Is anyone else struggling with this cold weather? I am getting out of breath doing the 5min school run, struggling to walk up my stairs too. My blood pressure is ok for me 94/56. Pulse rate has been a little high 128 and sp02 has dropped to 85. Been getting dizzy spells and weakness along with the breathlessness. My heart nurse is back to work tomorrow so I will contact her about my concerns. But just wondering if it's possibly the weather xx

[RufusScamp]

Talking to your heart nurse is best, She is presumably familiar with your details. Can you wrap a scarf around your face when you go out, so you aren't breathing such cold air?

[Bigheart58]

I am also affected by the cold weather. My cardiologist said it’s perfectly normal as your heart has to work harder when it’s so cold. Try to wrap up warm!

[Sljp0000]

Oxygen levels of 85 is way too low. Do you have a lung issue? I'd get down to A&E for a check up. Especially as you say you're breathless and struggling to walk upstairs. A pulse of 128 is high too. When I had the same symptoms (post sugery) it was a PE. Get checked out xx

[Cherrelleford in reply to Sljp0000]

No lung issues just my heart. My oxygen has come up to 93. And monitoring my other stats as they are a nightmare anyway. I am ringing my heart nurse this morning xx

[56dick19]

hi I also suffer from the cold I have low blood pressure and a low heart rate due to the medication I take to protect my heart. I get out of breath going up stairs and walking a short distance but not noticed it any more with the cold weather. I have I heated jacket that I wear even in doors. I think you should get checked out as soon as possible. Take care

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

Leaving aside the comments on your HR etc, which your heart nurse should help with, I wrap a scarf round my face in cold air, fog and wind. These all effect my breathing and angina, but the scarf really helps.

[Cherrelleford in reply to Kristin1812]

I will give that a try x

[Megaladon]

Cold does affect literally every organ. They all try harder to keep us going under cold spells. So I suggest you to wrap your face and wear thick clothes to protect your body temperature. also you must wear thick socks plus gloves. you will be fine after that.

[Hidden]

Try a snood works for me I even wear one on my bike

[Cherrelleford]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Spoken to my heart nurse and I have some good information. The cold weather doesn't help lol. Thanks again x

[ula1run]

I have similar symptoms but not as bad as yours. I was born and brought up in continental Europe where winters are much worse and thought nothing of it then. I've lived in Britain for 40 years and and got very sensitive to cold. My GP tells me is to do with my rather thin blood - people enduring very cold winters develop thicker blood to cope better with winter conditions.

[devonian186]

Yes, everything is more difficult in the cold. As you know it constricts the blood vessels, as does low cloud.

Essential to have warm boots-preferably fleece lined and with good grip, a good hat, warm gloves, warm socks and of course a good windproof coat. My best boots are cheap (£25) ones from shoe zone-far superior to the more expensive ones I have got as they are waterproof, very thick soled, have excellent grip, a warm lining and do up easily with a Velcro tab. Doing up laces is not always easy for some time after heart work!

My hat is a fleece lined 'trappers' hat which means that either the ear pieces fold over the cap out of the way or can be lowered over the ear and secured with pop studs under the chin, so keeping out cold and wind. The bears obviously recognise it as a trappers hat as I have seen none at all here in Torquay.

[fishonabike]

to expand on what Megalodon said: your heart has to work harder in extreme temperatures because it the blood it pumps has to supply the fuel and oxygen needed to maintain your temperature within a specific range at which the body can work

so if the weather is hot your body has to work harder to keep cool, in cold weather it has to work harder to keep warm - so any activity makes extra demands on the energy and fuel and you poor heart has to work overtime

your home fuel use goes up and the heating system has to work harder in cold weather - your heart is a bit like you central heating boiler pump or a cooling unit pump