Passage 2 Heart Attacks More Common in Winter; Tips to Lower Your Risk
冬天如何避免心脏病？ 《今日美国》

[00:00]You probably know from experience that winter brings a surge in colds and flu.
[00:08]But did you know winter is also the season for heart attacks?
[00:13]Frigid air causes blood vessels to constrict
[00:17]as the body tries to prevent heat loss, said Dr. Holly Andersen,
[00:23]director of education and outreach at the Ronald O. Perelman
[00:27]Heart Institute of New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
[00:35]"This is a natural response that can also put people with heart conditions
[00:41]and those involved in strenuous exercise
[00:44]at greater risk of having a heart attack," Anderson said.
[00:49]The narrowing raises blood pressure and can reduce oxygen flow to the heart.
[00:56]Combined with a strenuous activity, such as shoveling snow,
[01:01]this can strain the heart, triggering a heart attack in those at risk.
[01:07]Symptoms of a heart attack may include pain,
[01:11]discomfort or a squeezing sensation in the chest, pain in the arms,
[01:17]back, neck or jaw, shortness of breath, nausea or a cold sweat,
[01:24]according to the American Heart Association.
[01:28]Though women may also experience pain,
[01:31]they are more likely than men to experience shortness of breath,
[01:35]nausea or vomiting and back or jaw pain
[01:40]A heart attack can be mistaken for a pulled muscle,
[01:44]so take any post-shoveling symptoms seriously.
[01:48]To lessen your risk of winter-time heart trouble,
[01:52]Anderson has these suggestions:
[01:55]-Don't jump out of bed and get right to shoveling your driveway.
[02:00]Limber up by stretching or walking before you start.
[02:04]-Dress properly. Wear windproof and waterproof outer garments,
[02:10]place a scarf over your mouth and nose to warm up the air
[02:13]before you breathe it in and wear layers.
[02:18]Bundling up will help maintain your body heat.
[02:22]-To avoid overexertion, try the less strenuous technique of pushing the snow
[02:28]with the shovel rather than lifting it. Also,
[02:32]take frequent breaks - shovel for 15 minutes, then rest for 15.
[02:39]-If you're over the age of 50 and are overweight, sedentary,
[02:45]smoke or have had a heart attack, consult a doctor before shoveling snow.
[02:51]You may want to hire a local teenager to do the job for you.