As the weather gets colder these days, many people are worried about such a stroke. Professor Choi Hye-yeon explained, "We believe cold weather increases the risk of stroke, but theoretically, low temperatures can cause blood vessels to contract, which can cause blood pressure to rise, and blood clots are more likely to form at extremely low temperatures."
If so, is it easy to have a stroke when the temperature is low? Various studies have been conducted at home and abroad, but according to the results of previous studies, there are many opinions that daily differences affect cerebral infarction more than temperature and season.
In a Korean paper published in the Journal of Stroke in 2017, the risk of acute stroke increased 2.4 percent as the daily difference increased by 1°C, and 2.7 percent among people over the age of 65. However, the incidence of seasonal strokes is similar to that of the four seasons, and the temperature difference was less affected by hemorrhagic strokes.
A 2018 paper published in the journal Stroke introduced previously published findings, but concluded that the relationship between stroke and high and low temperatures is not constant, and that stroke risk and mortality are reported to increase at both high and low temperatures.
The reason why daily differences affect cerebrovascular disease, especially cerebral infarction, is not well known. First, some studies have suggested that sudden temperature changes may increase hemodynamic changes and cardiovascular burden. In particular, it is more noticeable among elderly people whose ability to maintain homeostasis in the body has decreased and their ability to regulate the autonomic nervous system, such as sweat secretion, has decreased. Another hypothesis is that a sudden change in temperature can increase the incidence of acute stroke because infection is related to the occurrence of acute stroke.
So, how do we reduce the risk of cerebral infarction in our daily lives? It's not easy to say the answer, but when it gets cold, staying indoors and not moving is not the answer, because less activity is not good for stroke risk and prognosis.
Choi said, "In addition to temperature, the effects of air pressure, humidity, and air pollution on health are often discussed in the media and academic circles. However, since it is impossible for individuals to control these factors, it is far more important to focus on the risk factors that can be controlled and prevent stroke than to think too much about them."
High risk groups for stroke include people with high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. Sixty to 70 percent of stroke patients suffer from high blood pressure, and the incidence of stroke among high blood pressure patients is four to five times higher than that of ordinary people. In the case of diabetes, the risk of stroke is twice that of normal people.
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 such risk factors, you should try to prevent stroke through steady exercise, diet management, and appropriate treatment.
Writer: Yeyoung Jeon
(Picture from Unsplash)
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