Colder weather could increase your chances of heart attack, study finds

With the winter season nearing and temperatures dropping, a new study finds the colder it gets, the better your chance of heart attack.

Doctors in Sweden conducted a nationwide study of heart attack incidents and weather for each day of the study period. Analyzing data collected over 16 years, researchers say it is the largest such study examining the impact of weather and health.

274,029 patients were part of the study in which doctors found the incidence of heart attack increased with lower air temperature, lower atmospheric air pressure, higher wind velocities and days filled with shorter sunshine.

Temperature drops were found to have the most impact on heart attack rates per 100,000 persons. The highest rates were found on days when the temperature was less than 32 degrees, the freezing point of water. Rates declined once temperatures rose above 37 degrees. When temperatures reached around 45 degrees, researchers found a 2.8% reduction in heart attack risk.

Areas in the northern part of the country, which saw higher winds and snow, also reported higher rates, though temperature was found to be the biggest potential factor.

Researchers did note they couldn’t cite weather as an exact cause of higher heart attack rates but say there is an badociation. Factors such as the role of influenza, reduced physical activity, diet and other seasonal changes could also contribute to the higher rates.

The study was published in the Journal American Medical Association (JAMA) on Wednesday.