There are people who are afraid of having a stroke when it is cold in winter. Does being really cold increase the risk of vascular diseases such as stroke? In fact, the hypothesis that the diurnal temperature difference acts as a major factor in the occurrence of cerebral infarction than the seasonal factor is more valid. Kangdong Kyunghee University Hospital neurology professor Choi Hye-yeon studied temperature and stroke in detail.
Stroke refers to a disease in which the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain are blocked (cerebral infarction) or the blood vessels leading to the brain burst and cause bleeding (brain hemorrhage). As one of the top three causes of death in Korea, it is a terrifying disease that ranks first in mortality as a single disease. If treatment is missed, not only can death occur, but it also leaves fatal consequences such as paralysis and altered consciousness. It is a serious disease that causes mental, physical and economic difficulties not only for the patient but also for his family members.
The “stroke” has a greater effect on the daily temperature difference than the temperature or the season
As the weather gets colder these days, there are many cases of concern about these strokes. Professor Hyeyeon Choi thinks that cold temperatures increase the risk of stroke. Theoretically, when the temperature is low, blood vessels constrict and blood pressure can rise as a result.
So, strokes happen more easily when the temperature is low? In this regard, various studies have been conducted at home and abroad. Looking at the study results so far, there are more opinions that the daily temperature difference affects the occurrence of cerebral infarction more than the temperature or the season.
In a Korean article published in the Journal of Stroke in 2017, the risk of acute stroke increased by 2.4% when the daily temperature difference increased by 1°C and by 2.7% in subjects aged 3 and older. 65 years old. However, the seasonal incidence of stroke was similar in all four seasons and the effect of temperature difference was small in hemorrhagic stroke.
In an article published in Stroke in 2018, the research results published so far were introduced. The relationship between stroke and high and low temperatures was not constant, so it was reported that stroke risk and mortality increased at both high and low temperatures. low temperatures, and there was no relationship. There were also studies that drew conclusions.
It is still not well known why the daily temperature difference affects the occurrence of cerebrovascular disease, especially cerebral infarction. First, some studies have hypothesized that sudden changes in temperature can increase hemodynamic alterations and cardiovascular load. In particular, it is said to be more prominent in the elderly, who have a reduced ability to maintain homeostasis in the body and a reduced ability to control the autonomic nervous system, such as sweat secretion. Furthermore, the rapid temperature change induces respiratory infection by disturbing the immune capacity and promoting the secretion of inflammatory regulators. As the infection is related to the occurrence of acute stroke, the rapid temperature change may also be an indirect cause of the increased incidence of acute stroke. it is also a hypothesis that it is.
Reduce controllable risk factors rather than uncontrollable temperatures
So what can we do to reduce the risk of cerebral infarction in everyday life? It’s not easy to give the right answer, but I can say that staying indoors and not moving in cold weather is not the answer. This is because low activity is not good for stroke risk or prognosis.
Professor Choi said: ‘Besides temperature, the health effects of air pressure, humidity and air pollution are also topics often covered in the media or academia. However, since these factors cannot be directly controlled by a person, it is much more important to focus on the risk factors that can be controlled and prevent stroke rather than overthinking them.”
Groups at high risk for stroke include those with high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. 60-70% of stroke patients suffer from hypertension, and the incidence of stroke in hypertensive patients is 4-5 times that of the general population. People with diabetes are twice as likely to have a stroke as normal people.
Additionally, about 20 percent of strokes are caused by heart disease, and other factors include age, family history, smoking, previous stroke history, obesity, and stress. If you have these risk factors for stroke, you should strive to prevent it with regular exercise, dietary management, and appropriate treatment.
Korean Neuroscience Society Nine lifestyle rules for stroke prevention and management
1. Quit smoking
2. Avoid drinking alcohol or cut it down to one or two drinks.
3. Eat fresh food evenly and eat enough vegetables and fish
4. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day if possible
5. Maintain a healthy weight and waist circumference
6. Reduce stress and enjoy life
7. Check your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol regularly
8. Receive consistent treatment for hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia (hyperlipidemia)
9. Know the emergency symptoms of stroke and myocardial infarction and go to the hospital immediately
